FOLLOWING the violent attacks on Intercape buses, police have made an arrest.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said a team of detectives within the serious violent crimes unit focusing on transport-related violence arrested a 28-year-old suspect in the early hours of Saturday morning in connection with the murder and attempted murder cases opened following attacks on Intercape busses in Cape Town in March and April 2022.”
Potelwa said: “In April 2022, an Intercape bus driven by 35-year-old Bangikhaya Machana was shot at resulting in him sustaining serious injury. He died three days after the incident in hospital. Another attack occurred in March where shots were fired at another Intercape bus.”
Potelwa said the suspect was arrested in Klapmuts in the Cape Winelands during a tracing operation.
“He faces murder and attempted murder charges that relate to the two incidents and will appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s court on Monday, 15 August.
“The Transport Violence Team is also currently hard at work probing other cases linked to the attacks on Intercape busses. The arrest of the suspect will go a long way in efforts to curb the attacks on the long-distance bus service.”
Western Cape police and other agencies in law enforcement have since intensified deployments along identified routes and hotspots. Meanwhile, engagements with affected parties continue.
Western Cape SAPS management has applauded the work of the team in efforts to apprehend those responsible for the violence.
