​A 9-metre MyCiTi bus was attacked, allegedly by a group of young people, along Freedom Way in Joe Slovo shortly after 14:00 today. The bus was operating along feeder Route 261 at the time and was set alight and destroyed.

No injuries have been reported and the MyCiTi bus driver thankfully escaped unharmed.

The motive for this senseless and shocking attack is unknown.

We need all of our residents to join us in condemning the violent attacks on our public transport system. There is absolutely no excuse or justification for this criminal behaviour which undermines and reverses the progress we are making in creating a more inclusive and accessible city.

Financial resources are limited. Destroying what has already been achieved deprives us all of improved access to jobs and opportunities, schools and clinics, and other services. In particular, it is the communities who are dependent on public transport for their mobility who suffer the most. Lower-income families spend, on average, up to 43% of their monthly income on transport costs and in some parts of Cape Town the costs are as high as 60%.

We are working day and night to bring down the public transport costs so that Cape Town is more equitable and accessible to those in need.

Those who randomly destroy our public transport infrastructure when aggrieved are depriving law-abiding residents of their right to affordable, accessible and safe public transport. Our rail system is already crippled by the ongoing sabotage and violent attacks, and thousands of commuters have shifted to road-based public transport as a result.

It is high time that the South African Police Service apprehend the culprits so that they can be charged and prosecuted. Anarchy, violence and the destruction of City property is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

The MyCiTi buses operating along Route 261 are being deviated along other roads until further notice.

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