R500 000 reward in bus petrol-bombing case

THE South African Police Service’s Limpopo commissioner‚ LieutenantGeneral Nneke Ledwaba‚ has assembled a high-level team of investigators to track down the people responsible for the petrol-bombing of a bus transporting night-shift mineworkers on Monday night, killing six.

A reward of up to R500 000 is also being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible.

The task team comprises members of the provincial organised crime unit‚ the Hawks and the provincial crime intelligence unit.

Six people – four men and two women – were burnt beyond recognition after the fiery attack on the bus outside Burgersfort when it stopped at a pickup point at about 8pm.

Twenty-eight other mineworkers on the bus were taken to hospital with burn wounds. Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the bus was carrying about 50 mineworkers.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the Segweka Bus Service was collecting Modikwa Platinum Mine night-shift workers between 8pm and 9pm on Monday,” he said.

“When the bus stopped at the Driekop bus stop‚ two unidentified people boarded and set it alight‚ using a highly flammable liquid.

“They then jumped out‚ leaving the bus engulfed in huge flames.

“The motive is not known, but we will not sleep until the people responsible for this gruesome incident are apprehended.

“We call on community members to assist the police in their quest to swiftly crack this case.

“Any information received will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.”