Despair for businessman as last three buses torched
IT COULD be an end of an era for Mahomed Essop Hoosen, whose three remaining buses were torched in an alleged arson attack last Thursday.
Hoosen, of Greenwood Park, said he felt disheartened as he watched the buses burn at the depot in Park Station Road.
“I don’t have funds to buy new buses,” said the 77-year-old owner of Roselite Coach Tours.
“Those were the last of my eight buses. Two are being repaired, and three others were destroyed in the same way in May 2018. My Kia Sportage, which was used to transport the staff, was also burned. I don’t know what I can do.”
Hoosen said while the buses were insured, he was still waiting for the investigation into the first fire to be completed before a claim could be paid out.
“Two years have passed, and the remains of those buses are in the depot. The damage is estimated to be about R980 000.”
He said at about 1am on Thursday, the security company called to notify him that his buses were on fire.
“By the time I arrived, the fire brigade was already there. I felt as if my world was collapsing.”
Hoosen, who previously owned meter taxis, said he started his bus service 47 years ago.
“Back then, a passenger, who was an attorney told me that he wanted to sell two permits and two buses for the Rosary Road route in Greenwood Park. He said there was no need to pay a deposit or interest and that I could pay the instalments as I could. I took the chance and bought Rosary Passenger Services.”
He said he then began operating a new route, on Bailey Road, about 15 years later and he changed the name of the transport business to Roselite Coach Tours.
“The attorney then told me that he had four buses and eight permits that I could take over with no deposit and no interest. Over the years, I bought additional buses.
“I fear that if I continue with this business, there could be a third attack. I will just have to wait and see what the future holds.”
He said he hoped to hand over the business to his children and it would be passed on to subsequent generations.
Hoosen said his employees were also impacted.
“They have families that rely on them. We have all suffered a great loss.”
After the fire, some of the people in the community took to Facebook.
One person wrote: “Again. No this is so wrong.”
Another wrote: “I’m feeling so lost without Roselite bus service. Sitting in a Duffs Rd bus makes me wanna cry.”
Captain Nqobile Gwala, a provincial police spokesperson, said a case of armed robbery and arson were opened.
She said two unknown armed suspects held up the security guard on Park Station Road and took his cellphone at gunpoint.
“They allegedly set alight buses that were parked in the yard. The matter is still under investigation,” said Gwala.