Johannesburg - Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has been criticised by the long-distance operator Intercape over allegations of his continued failure to address the “life-threatening” situation affecting the embattled coach industry in South Africa.
In a statement, the operator said: “In papers filed with the high court in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape on Friday, Intercape point to Mbalula’s ongoing disregard for the seriousness of the issues at hand which concern life-threatening and endemic acts of violence and intimidation.”
This was contained in an affidavit by Intercape chief executive Johann Ferreira in response to an earlier court order that Mbalula and Eastern Cape Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana Gxothiwe work with police to come up with a plan of action to secure the safety of Intercape coaches, passengers and employees.
It is also reported that there has been more than 150 recorded violent incidents, including shootings, stoning and acts of intimidation directed at Intercape and other long-distance operators by alleged rogue taxi associations intent on forcing long-distance coach companies out of operating in certain regions and routes across South Africa.
The statement further reveals that in September, the long-distance operator approached the high court seeking an order to compel the government to “take positive steps to ensure that reasonable and effective measures are in place to provide for the safety and security of long-distance bus drivers and passengers in the Eastern Cape”.
The court found in Intercape’s favour and gave Mbalula and Gxothiwe 20 days to formulate a workable plan of action; this as the company is gearing up for the busy festive holiday season when interprovincial travel peaks.
Intercape further revealed that Gxothiwe filed an action plan on October 28. However, on the same day, Mbalula gave notice of his intention to apply for leave to appeal the court order.
In his responding affidavit filed on Friday, Ferreira said of the Mbalula’s response: “It was this very dereliction of duty which required Intercape to institute these proceedings in the first place.
According to Ferreira, the “circumstances which rendered the matter urgent when it was launched persist to this day”.
He argued that notwithstanding the Mbalula’s appeal, it was imperative that the crisis in the Eastern Cape be addressed without delay.
Intercape further argued that Mbalula’s application for leave to appeal is no reason for him not to have participated in the formulation of the action plan as he “remains duty-bound to participate in the formulation of the action plan by virtue of his constitutional and statutory obligations”.
“In the circumstances, in order for the crisis to be addressed with the requisite urgency, it is necessary for Intercape to advance the action plan with the MEC alone. While this is neither what the court order requires, nor the optimal way of addressing the ongoing violence and intimidation in the Eastern Cape, it is better than the alternative of there being no implementation of the court order at all,” said the operator.
The Star