Fikile Mbalula, South Africa’s Transport Minister, has lost his bid to appeal a court order that compels him to take steps to mitigate attacks on Intercape bus drivers. According to the court, the minister has a duty to provide security to the bus company’s drivers, who have been targeted by criminals on several occasions in recent years. The court also noted that Mbalula had failed to take sufficient action to address the issue.
Picture: Bob Adams / Flickr
‘The court has confirmed that the safety of our drivers is a constitutional issue and that the Minister of Transport has a duty to protect them,’ said Intercape’s CEO, Hendrik W van der Bergh. ‘We hope that the Minister will now take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our drivers, who are simply trying to do their job.’
In response to the court’s ruling, the Transport Minister’s office said it would study the judgement and consider its options.
‘We are disappointed by the ruling, but we will respect the court’s decision,’ said Ayanda Allie-Paine, spokesperson for the Transport Minister. ‘The safety of all road users is a top priority for the Department of Transport, and we will continue to work to address the challenges faced by bus drivers.’
The court order is a significant victory for Intercape, which has been pushing for greater government action on the issue of attacks on its drivers.
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