DA WC welcomes Intercape legal action against Mbalula

20 September 2022

The DA in the Western Cape welcomes the legal action taken against the National Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, by the Intercape bus company. Intercape is taking Minister Mbalula to court for failing to address continuous extortion and attacks on long-distance buses.

This legal dispute serves as a warning to Minister Mbalula on his department's inaction and lack of strategy regarding the concerns raised in the long-distance transport industry. It has been disturbing to see the national government not dealing with the violence in the long-distance transport industry with the urgency it requires. We would not be here today if Minister Mbalula acted fast and had implemented efficient strategies to deal with the crisis.

MPP Ricardo Mackenzie says: “Violence has been fuelled by extortion both in public infrastructure and transportation industries. The inaction of the ANC national government has exacerbated these issues even further. Between January 2021 and February 2022, Intercape buses were the target of more than 150 shootings, as well as other violent and intimidating activities, with comparatively little to no arrests being made.

The DA in the Western Cape will continue to monitor this matter and will repeatedly call for crime intelligence, state security and Minister Bheki Cele to be more proactive in dealing with violent crime.”

Issued by Ricardo Mackenzie, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Transport, 20 September 2022