Gangsters target bus commuters

A SPATE of robberies aboard Algoa Bus Company vehicles has left commuters frightened and frustrated at what they say is a lack of action by the transport company.

Several commuters told Weekend Post about two men who have been robbing passengers, mainly on the route between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage.

They say the men, one aged about 40 and the other about 25, have been terrorising passengers for a month.

A KwaNobuhle resident, who asked not to be named for fear of being identified by the suspects, said an entire bus was robbed on Thursday last week.

“I’m still shaken up about the whole thing. They were sitting in the 1.30pm bus to Uitenhage, when all of a sudden the bus stopped just past Missionvale and a man stood up and pointed a gun at the driver,” the 46-year-old victim said.

“He told him (the driver) to lie face down. At that time a younger man stood up at the back of the bus and told the passengers to do the same before telling us to throw all of our money and cellphones into a bag.”

The victim added: “The two men who robbed us that day are already wanted in connection with other robberies. Their faces were on a wanted poster outside the KwaDwesi police station where we laid our case.”

Uitenhage resident Daniel Lombaard, 29, was also robbed by two armed men, who fitted the same description, on his way home from Port Elizabeth on the 1.30pm bus.

Both men were wearing navy blue tops at the time of that robbery.

A 38-year-old woman, who would identify herself only as Cleo, said on July 31 two men boarded the 7.30am bus to Port Elizabeth from Uitenhage.

She said the two men, described as being “decently dressed”, stood up from their seats wielding handguns and demanding cellphones and money from commuters.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Alwin Labans confirmed the first incident, on Thursday last week, had been reported at the Algoa Park police station. Police spokesman Dumile Gwavu confirmed the second incident saying it happened on August 7.

Algoa Bus chief executive officer Sicelo Duze said the company was as concerned about the robberies as their commuters are.

“The suspects are known to the community but they are too scared to come forward,” Duze said. But he added that there “is a plan in place to address the issue”.