Attacks on Putco buses halt operations
Depots in Soweto, Eldorado Park, Soshanguve, Tshwane and Mpumalanga were non-operational and would remain closed until further notice.
Putco has confirmed attacks and a reported incident of hijacking have forced the company to temporarily halt some of its bus operations on Monday.
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It reported that its various depots across the country were affected by the National shutdown after blocked roads and intimidation of their bus drivers during the rush hour morning trips.
It said its depot in Soweto, Eldorado Park, Soshanguve, Tshwane and Mpumalanga were non-operational and would remain closed until further notice.
The statement cited that incidents included damage to its buses in Soweto following Buses being stoned and damaged in Braamfischerville.
It said Passengers were forced to flee and the bus was abandoned. According to Spokesperson for Putco, Lindokuhle Xulu, the police have since assisted in recovering one of the damaged buses.
Other reported incidents include:
Eldorado Park where services could not operate after the Staff buses couldn’t access the Vaal areas for picking up drivers as a result buses from Nancefield depot couldn’t operate. It also noted that a bus belonging to a Putco subcontractor was stoned by protestors in the same area.
While in Soshanguve a bus was hijacked where the female driver was forced out of the bus and it was used to block a road in Dennilton but police quickly recovered it and it was taken back to the local depot.
“Protestor also demanded that buses be made available to transport them to their rally and our security personnel acted swiftly and prevented them from entering the depot,” the statement read.
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In Tshwane and Mpumalanga routes have been blocked and are unsafe to use, including the Moloto road, which is a main route between the two provinces of Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
According to Xulu, one staff bus from Mountainview had to take refuge at the KwaMhlanga Police Station.
According to Xulu, the incidents have been logged to the Command Centre established by the government.
“Our operations teams are monitoring the developments and will advise on the coverage of the afternoon shift which at this stage looks very much unlikely.”
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