A Buscor bus carrying more than 20 passengers was robbed along the R538 between Numbi and Mbombela on Thursday, August 21, at around 05:00.

A group of four men boarded the bus, and once it had started moving, put on balaclavas and fired shots into the roof before robbing passengers of their valuables. Many of those on board were travelling from Numbi to Mbombela.

“The robbers ordered the driver not to stop the bus and instructed us to hand over cash and cellphones. We were all scared because we realised the guns were real, so everyone complied without argument,” said one passenger, who asked not to be named. “I was not surprised when an elderly passenger wet his pants. Nobody wants to die.”

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Another victim, Lucky Ngomane, told Lowvelder that he was robbed of his R32 000 iPhone. “I thought it was all a dream and that I would wake up at some stage. It was a shock to be robbed at gunpoint. I had only had the cellphone for three days,” said Ngomane.

He criticised Buscor for not having security on their buses, saying the company was putting passengers’ lives at risk.

A third passenger, Gift Nonyane, lost R1 500 that was in her wallet. “I am extremely distraught. The R1 500 was for my child, who is a student at the Vaal University of Technology. I was travelling to Mbombela to deposit the money,” said Nonyane.

After taking the valuables, the men forced the driver to stop the bus and fled on foot in the Mganduzweni Trust area. The total value of items stolen remains unknown.

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Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lieutenant Jabu Ndubane, confirmed that an armed robbery case is under investigation.

“No arrests have been made. We are appealing to anyone with information that could lead to the suspects’ arrest to come forward. They can contact the nearest police station, call the Crime Stop toll-free number on 08600 10111 or use the My SAPS app,” said Ndubane.

Lowvelder contacted Buscor management for comment. While they acknowledged that they would respond, no statement had been received at the time of publication.