CAPE TOWN – Eight passengers were seriously injured when assailants hurled a petrol bomb at a Golden Arrow bus in Gugulethu on Monday morning, in what officials have described as a “senseless and horrific” attack on public transport.
The attack occurred at the intersection of Duinefontein and Govan Mbeki roads just before 07:00, during the height of the morning commute.
City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Traffic Services officers responded swiftly to extinguish the flames that engulfed the bus following the petrol bomb attack.
Hereafter a second Golden Arrow bus was also targeted in the same area. However, the fire on the second vehicle was quickly extinguished, and no injuries were reported in that incident.
According to Grounup,org.za, a group of residents, unhappy that they had not been given jobs on the under-contruction MyCiti bus project on Govan Mbeki Road, protested throughout the day on Monday, blocking parts of the road. “The group acknowledged they were responsible for petrol bombing the buses,” reportd Grounup.
The dual attack has raised serious concerns about the safety of public transport users and the increasing frequency of attacks on critical infrastructure in the Western Cape.
Western Cape mobility spokesperson and Member of Provincial Parliament Nomafrench Mbombo has strongly condemned the attacks, emphasising that there is no justification for endangering lives and damaging essential transport infrastructure.
“This incident was not only criminal in nature but a direct attack on public infrastructure and the safety of residents,” Mbombo stated. “Violence must never be used as a means to express frustration.”
Mbombo acknowledged that commuters may experience legitimate frustrations regarding transport and service delivery issues but cautioned that resorting to violence ultimately places additional strain on already stretched resources.
“I urge all residents to use peaceful, lawful channels to raise their concerns and to work with us to find real, lasting solutions. The safety of commuters must remain our top priority,” she added.
The Golden Arrow Bus Services, which provides crucial transport links for thousands of Cape Town residents daily, has faced numerous security challenges in recent years as operators struggle to maintain safe and reliable services in volatile areas.
No arrests have yet been made in connection with the attacks, and investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
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