Police in Cofimvaba have arrested two suspects in connection with the ongoing attacks on Intercape long-distance buses.
The arrests came after several incidents of attacks on Intercape buses by unidentified suspects in various districts in the Eastern Cape.
Eastern Cape police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, had established an investigating task team and further deployed the Tactical Response Teams and Flying Squad members on the national roads to conduct highway patrols during the day and night to prevent the escalation of these incident and to protect lives.
“These operational initiatives made a significant difference and impact as the level of incidents began to show a decrease. It has been, however, very difficult to make immediate arrests in some of these cases as the suspects have launched these attacks during the night and in dark and isolated places where there are no houses.
“These challenges did not dampen the spirit of the investigators and forces on the ground. Investigations continued in search of clues and tangible evidence that could lead to the arrest of the criminal element which ambushed busses without trace,” said provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana.
As part of ongoing investigations, the SAPS detectives arrested two men, aged 26 and 37, believed to be linked to the spate of attacks on Intercape busses.
The suspects were arrested over the weekend of April 29 and 30 in Cofimvaba.
“Their arrest came after they allegedly confronted people who were waiting for the bus in one of the filling stations in Cofimvaba. During the incident, they allegedly assaulted and robbed them of their belongings. This incident was followed by an attack on the bus between Tsomo and Ngqamakhwe, during which commuters were allegedly robbed and assaulted in the bus,” Kinana said.
He further said investigation continues to establish if the two suspects cannot be linked to other incident which took place in other parts of the province.
“The objective strategies and operational plans put in place to deal with these attacks have started yielding positive results and I need to make it clear that the net is closing in on those who continued to terrorise commuters with violence,” concluded Mene.
The arrested suspects were expected to appear before Cofimvaba Magistrate’s Court today, May 2, on charges relating to assault, robbery and malicious damage to property.
