A Tshwane municipal bus was violently attacked and set ablaze in Olievenhoutbosch, Centurion, on Friday.
Tshwane bus attack in Olievenhoutbosch: Here’s what we know
From what we understand, the bus became the target of an aggressive attack near a bustling shopping area along the R55.
Reports indicate that the bus driver faced a harrowing ordeal when an armed assailant forced him to leave the vehicle, which was subsequently torched.
The call reporting the incident reached Tshwane emergency services at 05:08, according to spokesperson Charles Mabaso.
Firefighters arrived promptly to confront the dire scene but despite their efforts, the bus was reduced to ashes.
The investigation into the attack remains active, with details about the perpetrators and their motives still unclear, Mabaso confirmed.
This incident is not isolated; it’s part of a series of assaults that have plagued the Tshwane bus service, disrupting operations for an extended period.
For about three months, these services were halted due to what is believed to be a related string of attacks amid a backdrop of labour unrest.
Municipal workers have reportedly engaged in an unprotected strike, causing significant disruption to the bus service.
Efforts to resume normalcy began on 23 October 2023, with the bus service initiating limited operations, deploying only 26 of the usual 160 buses each day.
The city had to suspend some municipal services in September 2023, including bus operations, due to similar acts of vandalism.
The recent violence, including the setting of city-owned vehicles on fire and the stoning of buses, has its roots in a contentious labour dispute.
Central to the conflict is a standoff over wage increases. The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) has been at loggerheads with the Democratic Alliance (DA)-led Tshwane metro government over a proposed 5.4% wage hike, which the city contends is unaffordable given its financial state.
Friday’s incident, however, has yet to be linked to SAMWU.