Gautrain bus driver shot in Centurion

A new Gautrain bus driver was shot on Monday in Rooihuiskraal while trial-running bus routes in the Centurion area, the Bombela Concession company said.

The trial-running was with a view to the reinstatement of routes after recent illegal strikes by Gautrain bus drivers, spokeswoman Kelebogile Machaka said.

“The incident happened just before 8am this morning. No one else was injured and the driver is in a stable condition in hospital.”

Machaka said the shooting followed other incidents where Gautrain buses were targeted and services were disrupted.

“Gautrain buses have been targeted by criminal elements bent on disrupting Gautrain's bus services - bus depots have been blockaded; replacement drivers have been intimidated; buses have been stoned; there have been incidents of arson and attempted arson.”

On February 24, a Gautrain bus operating on the Midrand route was shot at. No one was injured but the bus was slightly damaged.

Machaka said both the Bombela Concession company and MegaExpress, the Gautrain bus operating company, had followed accepted labour practices when dealing with the bus driver strike.

“Everybody at Gautrain is extremely concerned about this apparent escalation in the criminal and violent nature of the attacks that we are enduring,” she said.

“The bus services in Centurion, Hatfield and Pretoria are suspended but all other bus routes are running normally.”

In January, drivers went on strike because they wanted MegaExpress to provide them with transport from their homes to their place of work every day.

Two court interdicts were obtained and additional security personnel were deployed on all the busses.

The company fired 318 drivers in February as a result of the strike.

Machaka said police were investigating. - Sapa