The Eastern Cape Division of the High Court has granted long-distance bus operator Intercape urgent interim relief compelling the South African Police Service (SAPS) to escort its buses and maintain visible policing in two towns where the company says its drivers and passengers have faced sustained intimidation and violence.
The order, the latest in a string of court rulings Intercape has secured against SAPS as previously reported by amaBhungane, was issued on 21 November 2025. SAPS must return to court on 3 December to explain why the measures should not be made final, but until then, the directives stand.
The respondents include Eastern Cape provincial commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, national commissioner General Fannie Masemola, and Ngcobo station commander Lieutenant Colonel Xolani Sali.
Under the provisional order, SAPS must maintain visible patrols at Intercape loading areas in Ngcobo and Cofimvaba whenever buses stop there, provide escorts whenever Intercape identifies a real risk of intimidation or violence, and immediately arrest perpetrators involved in attacks on Intercape staff, passengers or property, particularly when such incidents occur in plain view of police.
Intercape accuses SAPS of inaction
In the court papers, Intercape argues that escalating threats and assaults, allegedly carried out by individuals linked to the local taxi industry, made the urgent application unavoidable. The company identifies Ngcobo as the epicentre of the violence and warns that similar conduct is spreading to neighbouring towns, including Cofimvaba.
Intercape’s affidavit is scathing, accusing SAPS of failing to intervene despite full knowledge of the attacks.
“The SAPS are aware of the violence and intimidation, yet have failed to comply with their constitutional duties. It allows criminal conduct to occur in broad daylight in full view of SAPS members while they stand by and do nothing,” the company states.
In a statement, Intercape quoted acting Judge Brin Brody, who heard the urgent application, as stating that Ngcobo appeared to be in a state of anarchy and that it was unthinkable that a litigant must keep returning to court to force SAPS to meet its basic constitutional obligations.
Intercape wrote to SAPS leadership on 23 November, warning that failure to comply with the order would constitute contempt of court and could endanger lives. Another letter the following day raised intelligence of planned criminal activity and requested safe passage for buses. It remains unclear whether SAPS responded.
SAPS has refused to answer amaBhungane’s questions about the incidents and its own alleged poor conduct, repeatedly citing the excuse that “we will not comment on a pending [court] matter”.
Intercape alleges that the crisis reached a flashpoint between 14 and 19 November, culminating in a dramatic standoff at the Ngcobo police station on 19 November.
During that confrontation, part of what the company describes as a week-long campaign of intimidation aimed at driving it out of the area, Intercape claims police officers stationed at Ngcobo fled the scene, leaving Intercape to fend for itself while taxi operators confronted passengers.
The company had moved its loading point to right outside the police station only after local businesses had threats of arson and boycotts. This arrangement was made in consultation with SAPS officials and municipal traffic leadership, in line with permit conditions that allow the use of a SAPS station during intimidation.
Even on the doorstep of the police station, tensions continued to mount.
According to Intercape, on 17 November, roughly forty taxi operators allegedly prevented four Intercape buses from loading while SAPS members again failed to intervene.
Later that day, municipal traffic officials impounded a bus, claiming it was stopping illegally – despite the clear agreement reached earlier. It was only released after Intercape paid a ‘fine’.
Intercape says this was the second time this had happened and accused the traffic police of acting in collusion with the taxi owners.
By 18 November, Intercape was warned that stones would be placed across the R61 to trap buses and passengers. The following day, taxi operators allegedly hijacked trucks, removed their keys, and used them to block both entrances to Ngcobo.
These events occurred shortly after the fatal 12 November shooting of a passenger on a Makalala Trans bus outside the town, an incident Intercape cites as evidence that violence along the route had intensified. The bus was sprayed with gunfire leaving one woman dead and two people wounded along the R61 between Cofimvaba and Ngcobo.
Makalala Trans is owned by Eastern Cape taxi boss Bonke Makalala, previously named in court papers as a key orchestrator of attacks as previously reported by amaBhungane. He faces multiple charges in the Western Cape, including murder and impersonating a police officer – but these are unrelated to his alleged role in strong-arming bus operators.
Daily Sun reported on 26 November that taxi operators have since parked their vehicles along the streets and at the outskirts of the town as tensions continue to rise.
Against this backdrop, a 19 November video shows Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality Speaker and councillor Mandilakhe Kondile addressing Intercape representatives while two men behind him appear to hold an LM5 rifle and a shotgun.
Kondile can be heard urging Intercape to suspend operations, saying the situation in Ngcobo is “really bad” and that the municipality “does not want to lose lives”.
Asked why armed men were behind him, Kondile claimed they were Intercape security.
Intercape argues, however, that where SAPS failed to act, its private security was forced to step in to restore access to Ngcobo. The company describes conditions as extremely volatile and in urgent need of stabilisation.
Minimal responses
Responses from authorities have been minimal. SAPS Eastern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa issued only a one sentence reply to thirteen detailed questions from amaBhungane: “The matter is still sub judice and SAPS is not at liberty to respond to your enquiry.”
AmaBhungane reminded SAPS that the rule does not apply to questions about past events, operational conduct, or compliance with existing court orders. SAPS responded that they stand by their comment. The response reflects a pattern in previous cases involving taxi violence.
This position contradicts what SAPS told Parliament in May, when Deputy National Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said police were conducting intelligence driven operations, using WhatsApp threat alert groups, and escorting buses in line with earlier court orders.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport has distanced itself from the actions of municipal traffic officials who targeted Intercape buses amid escalating taxi-related intimidation in Ngcobo.
Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the province could not account for municipal enforcement, noting that local authorities are responsible for their own bylaws.
While taxi operators accused of intimidation were reportedly present during enforcement, Binqose emphasised that traffic officers operate independently. “Our traffic officers execute their duties independently, guided strictly by the National Road Traffic Act and departmental protocols,” he said.
He dismissed claims that municipal enforcement had been influenced by taxi operators, adding that no such concerns had been formally raised.
Concerns over the lack of decisive action when roads were blocked and stranded buses were met with a reminder that officers must act carefully to balance public safety with restoring order.
Binqose highlighted that more recent “protests” had been calm and that conditions were improving following engagement with operators and the municipality.
On oversight, Binqose said passenger safety is non-negotiable and that officers are subject to supervisory review, compliance with national law enforcement codes, and adherence to High Court orders.
He gave bland assurances the department worked closely with SAPS, municipalities, and community leaders to monitor threats and ensure protective measures for commuters, but declined to disclose the province’s festive-season transport safety plan, citing operational security, and referred questions about traffic officers not intervening to protect commuters outside the Ngcobo police station to SAPS.
He remained confident that enforcement was improving, concluding, “We remain confident that following the meeting we had with operators and the municipality, things will change for the better.”
Intercape stated that where SAPS did not act, its private security was forced to restore access to Ngcobo. The company described conditions as “extremely volatile” and in urgent need of stabilisation.
As the festive season travel increases, long-distance passengers continue to face significant risks, and even a single incident could have serious consequences. Ensuring the safety of travellers will require careful monitoring and immediate action as travel volumes rise.
Eastern Cape SANTACO, which was asked about the road blockades, confrontations with Intercape, and any directives issued to taxi operators, did not respond despite indicating it would.
