Long-distance bus company Intercape is defending its operations in an Eastern Cape town, where public transport and the local economy have reportedly been brought to a standstill for more than three weeks.
Community activists claim that the operator has no permits to work in eNgcobo, and this is among the reasons why a shutdown was called following a meeting with taxi operators, business owners, and other stakeholders.
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Intercape, however, said that it has valid permits, and believes the shutdown is part of a long-running campaign of intimidation and violence by taxi operators.
Intercape maintains the public transport shutdown is part of an effort to force the company out of parts of the Eastern Cape.
Last year, the long-distance bus company went to court to plead for police protection, as buses were being attacked, allegedly by forces within the taxi industry, on the route between the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.
Intercape CEO, Johann Ferreira said the eNgcobo Taxi Association also abandoned its challenge to the company’s operating permits, conceding they were valid.
He adds that there’ve been 14 court judgements in favour of Intercape’s legal right to operate in towns in the Eastern Cape, including eNgcobo.
Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa said that a high-level Transport Department delegation will engage with the community to help resolve the ongoing shutdown, after he appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene.
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Mihle George
www.ewn.co.za