News24 reports that dramatic scenes unfolded on Cape Town’s N2 on Wednesday afternoon as some passengers aboard a Golden Arrow bus were forced to escape through windows after the vehicle burst into flames.

The bus was transporting passengers from Makhaza in Khayelitsha to the Cape Town CBD. Passenger Ncumisa Dantile, who was on her way to work, said the bus started “acting up” while it was still in Makhaza. She reported further: “We told the driver we could smell something burning from the engine. He got out to check, came back and said everything looked fine. But once we got onto the N2, the smoke grew thicker, and before we knew it, the bus was on fire. We screamed for the driver to stop. People were jumping out of the windows, and I followed. Luckily, I was close to the door. It’s only by God’s mercy that we’re still alive to tell the story.”

According to Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, a call was made at around 14:15 to report a bus on fire before Liesbeek Parkway. Crews managed to contain the fire by 14:35. Golden Arrow said it would launch an investigation into the cause of the fire but that arson was not suspected.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya & Velani Ludidi and view a video clip at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)

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