GNT bus damaged during national shutdown protest
Although no injuries were sustained, the driver of the Great North Transport bus that was pelted with stones received medical attention to check his eyes for glass residue.
POLOKWANE – Great North Transport has opened a case of malicious damage to property on March 20 after one of its buses was pelted with stones by protesters between Zone 4 and Blood River in Seshego, allegedly by affiliates of the EFF.
Some members of the opposition political party who participated in the protest distanced itself from all forms of sporadic violence that took place during the national shutdown, including this incident, saying theirs was a peaceful protest against the administration of President Cyril Ramaphosa and a call for government to stop load-shedding.
“The driver of the bus had just made a U-turn at the Seshego Circle Centre to use an alternative route into the city, because the protesters had blocked the main road with rubble. But they were met by a group of people who threw stones at the windscreen and a few other windows,” GNT spokesperson, Patrick Monkoe tells BONUS.
Although no injuries were sustained, the driver received medical attention to check his eyes for glass residue, according to Monkoe. The case also forms part of a standard procedure by the state-owned enterprise who has logged an insurance claim for the vandalised bus.
In under six months, this is the second protest in Seshego that saw two of GNT’s buses desecrated.
During the notorious water protest on October 26, 2022, a bus was torched by disgruntled demonstrators who were marching to the Polokwane Municipality, demanding their memorandum of demands be directly received by Polokwane Mayor John Mpe, who still was a no-show.
“We suspect the bus was petrol bombed, hence it burnt to ashes. Police were alerted and on arrival, the bus was already in flames. No casualties were reported and no passengers were in the bus, at the time of the incident,” GNT told BONUS at the time.
Read more: GNT halts services in Seshego amid ongoing protest
This concerned the provincial Economic Development MEC, Rodgers Monama.
“Although we understand the people’s right to protest, such protests should not cause irreparable damage to public infrastructure. This cannot under any circumstances be called a peaceful protest when buses are burnt, open fires are lit and workers are restricted from reporting to duty. It is a thuggish display disguised as a service delivery protest,” he said.
Despite the members having denied being involved in the violence, provincial EFF chairperson Thsilidzi Maraga told BONUS’ sister newspaper Polokwane Observer last week, that there were a total of 13 arrests in Limpopo and five in the Capricorn district, although all were released without charge.
