The Hlahatsi Fire Station (HFS) responded to emergency calls at 06:19 after a learner transport bus caught fire on Masakhane Street near the Huntersfield Stadium on May 11.

According to William Ntladi of the DEMS, the bus had no passengers, and only the driver was inside. He was on his way to collect the learners.

“According to the driver, he saw smoke coming from the engine. He packed the bus, jumped off and called for assistance,” said Ntladi.

He could not confirm if the bus had a fire extinguisher and said according to the driver, he did not try to extinguish the fire.

He said the driver was unharmed, and there were no casualties reported.

“The HFS station responded with two fire engines and a water tanker and put out the fire.”

The EMPD media liaison officer, Constable Katlego Mphahlele, said, at this stage, they were unsure what had caused the fire, but it could have been a mechanical fault.