EWN reports that according to Intercape, its operations have been hampered by taxi operators in several towns across the Eastern Cape.

The long distance bus company on Tuesday briefed Parliament's Tourism Committee about ongoing violence in the sector. Since the beginning of 2021, the company has recorded more than 150 incidents, including shootings, intimidation, assault and extortion. This year alone there've been at least 31 stonings and 21 shootings. Intercape's Johann Ferreira said currently Mthatha was the only place they could operate from in the Eastern Cape. “There are certain towns where Intercape for the last few months, cannot operate from. That is Idutywa, Butterworth, Ngcobo, Tsomo, Cofimvaba, Gcuwa and Namaqua. This is a typical example of industry cleansing, in other words, get rid of a competitor. How do you get rid of them? You terrorise them until they go away,” he stated. Ferreira showed MPs a social media post featuring a photo of a bus, which was allegedly bought by a representative of a taxi association to introduce services in the same towns where Intercape has been prevented from operating. He said Intercape reported this to authorities, and the particular coach was impounded in Cape Town, because it had no legal authority to carry passengers. “They impounded the bus on a Saturday, the Sunday night the attacks resumed in Cape Town,” said Ferreira, who argued that the resumption indicated a direct link between the attacks and the taxi industry.

• Read the original of the report in the above regard by Lauren Isaacs at EWN

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page