Cape Town – A four-year investigation into the disruption of long-distance bus services has culminated in the arrest of seven suspects in a coordinated, multi-province operation led by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Six men and one woman, aged between 35 and 65, were arrested on Friday and Saturday in Cape Town, Matatiele and Nelspruit.
The operation was carried out by Western Cape serious violent and organised crime detectives, supported by Crime Intelligence, the Special Task Force, Tactical Response Team, and officials from the Asset Forfeiture Unit, Financial Intelligence Centre and the National Prosecuting Authority.
According to SAPS, the arrests form part of a “protracted investigation into the disruption of the long distance bus service that transcends provincial boundaries.”
Police allege the suspects were part of a coordinated criminal network that targeted major bus operators between 2021 and 2023, using intimidation and extortion to control routes and operations.
The group allegedly “torment[ed], intimidat[ed] and extort[ed] major long distance bus service operators and coerc[ed] them to pay substantial monies in exchange for protection and permission to operate safely on their licensed routes,” SAPS said.
Authorities added that the financial demands placed on operators were so severe that some businesses were forced to shut down or scale back services, limiting travel options for commuters.
“In some instances, so detrimental were the amounts imposed on the businesses that they either closed down or ran a limited service that negatively impacted travellers,” police said.
The investigation further revealed alleged collusion among individuals with financial interests in the transport sector, with suspects accused of dictating operational terms to bus companies.
“The investigation also revealed how… the number of trips and passengers were imposed on them,” SAPS stated.
The suspects are facing around 125 charges, including intimidation, extortion, money laundering, interference with essential infrastructure, and managing a criminal enterprise under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
Police estimate the value of the illicit activities to run into hundreds of millions of rand.
The accused are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday, March 30.
Western Cape SAPS management praised the investigative team, saying: “The team took time in digging deep and confronting the types of crimes that are often concealed.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
