STABILITY PRIORITY COMMITTEE REPORT: FEEDBACK ON

Background Eastern and Western Cape provinces have registered a high number of incidents related to attacks on Long Distance Buses in past twelve months. Long Distance Bus companies travelling between the two provinces include but not limited to Inter Cape, Trans lux and Greyhound.

The bus related incidents in the main include malicious injury to property, intimidation, assault, attempted murder and murder crimes . Statistics show that Inter Cape is the most targeted company, it accounts for 69 cases registered for 2022/2023. Eastern and Western Cape Provinces have registered 61 and 8 cases respectively .

The bus companies reportedly had numerous informal meetings with taxi community in both the Eastern and Western Cape where bus fare and limitation of buses travelling between the two provinces and protection fee were subjects of discussion. Inter Cape have experienced more serious shootings since July 2022. Bus companies were subjected to paying the expenses for the meetings i.e. Cost of flights. 4<br>

Background Other long distance bus operators have indicated that they were the target of minibus taxi operators, currently Inter Cape is the primary long distance bus operator being targeted
It is alleged that the taxi industry has threatened acts of violence should their demands as outlined are not be complied with, demands as follows:
Inter Cape to increase their bus fare from Cape Town to Eastern Cape
Only two Inter Cape buses to travel on a daily basis on the route
Taxi operators have requested a fee to ensure that buses can operate without any hindrance
Allegations of high profile taxi owners / hitmen instigating the acts of extortion and attacks on long distance buses
Inter Cape has reportedly resisted paying extortion fees resulting in incidents
CEO of Inter Cape has lodged a complaint with President Ramaphosa, calling for urgent intervention to stop the violence directed against long distance buses 5<br>

Stake Holders & Responsibilities 6<br>

Stake Holders & Responsibilities 7<br>

Stake Holders & Responsibilities 8<br>

Operational Pillars being implemented 9<br>

Pillar 1: Intelligence gathering, analysis and coordination Trends and Tendencies:

In the Eastern Cape the suspects target the buses on the way to various destinations by stoning them, shooting at them or draining the passengers. In the Western Cape all incidents were shooting incidents at buses in close proximity to the depot in Bishop Lavis

The suspects place stones on the road forcing the driver to stop and upon the stopping of the bus, they throw stones at the bus. This modus operandi was noted in Cradock in particular

Intelligence further indicated that taxi bosses demanded that Intercape pay for the cost of the flights and accommodation when travelling from the Eastern Cape to attend meetings

Intelligence gathering and monitoring of the identified targets who are also operating as taxi owners 10<br>

Pillar 1: Intelligence gathering, analysis and coordinationCont… Targeted Routes / Hot Spots
Eastern Cape
R61 from Mthatha via Ngcobo, Cofimvaba, Komani, Cradock, Graaff Reinet which joins N9 to Aberdeen (Intimidation)
N6 from Queenstown to Aliwal North to Gauteng (Intimidation, Attempted Murder) 11<br>

Pillar 2: Proactive Approach: Cont … Eastern Cape
Western Cape and Eastern Cape Province had established a Joint Planning Committee dealing with the current situation and threat against the long distance bus industry
Surveillance of buses from one town to the other until they are out of the province to identify any possible suspicious vehicles with the aim of identifying any possible suspects
Provisioning of proactive intelligence to the operational units to mitigate the threat
A decision was taken to conduct an Interprovincial Prosecutorial Led Investigation (PLI) between the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape
Briefing the PROVJOINTS regarding the threat
Holding of bilateral meetings with the Western Cape (May 2022 and August 2022) 12<br>

Pillar 2: Proactive ApproachCont… Gauteng
Attacks on Long Distance Bus Services remains a serious threat in Gauteng Province which requires immediate Police Intervention before it escalates to loss of human lives and destruction of property

Even though the threat is not prevalent in Gauteng Province, but loss of human lives and destruction of property poses a serious threat in the stability; well-being and relations between the Long Distance Bus Services and long-term challenges. Furthermore, the plausibility of the new emerging threat imported from Cape Town into Gauteng Province cannot be ruled out. Stringent measures and mitigating measures need to be put in place to avert any potential future attacks on Long Distance Bus Service, destruction to property and loss to human lives 13<br>

Pillar 2: Proactive ApproachCont… Western Cape
Several information notes and early warnings on the phenomenon were compiled and disseminated
Participate in an initiative by the POCC to engage with the long distance bus companies in an effort to mitigate the violence directed at these companies
Engage in bilateral meetings with Crime Intelligence in the Eastern Cape (as reflected above)
The most recent bilateral included representatives from Vispol, and Detectives resulting in the compilation of an operational plan to mitigate the attacks on long distance buses
Collection efforts remain ongoing in support of a directed project investigation to ensure actionable information that is operationalised through the issuing of early warnings to operational counterparts 14<br>

15 Affected Provinces<br>

Actions executed: Eastern Cape 16<br>

Actions executed: Gauteng 17<br>

Actions executed: Western Cape 18<br>

Exhibits/Recoveries Western Cape 19<br>

Pillar 3: Combat Approach 20 NATIONAL CRIME COMBATING STRATEGY GEOGRAPHICAL APPROACH ORGANISED CRIME APPROACH Intelligence Driven Operations to Prevent, Combat and Detect Crime In Identified Hotspots
CPA & CTA Implementing Stabilisation and Normalisation using the Five Pillar Approach Disrupt and Neutralise Syndicates involved In Identified Organised Criminal Activities Utilising Unconventional Methods. Prosecutorial Guided investigations. Following the money, proceeds of Crime<br>

Pillar 3: Combat Approach Western Cape
Several information notes and early warnings on the phenomenon were compiled and disseminated
Participate in an initiative by the POCC to engage with the long distance bus companies in an effort to mitigate the violence directed at these companies
Engage in bilateral meetings with Crime Intelligence in the Eastern Cape (as reflected above)
The most recent bilateral included representatives from Vispol, and Detectives resulting in the compilation of an operational plan to mitigate the attacks on long distance buses
Collection efforts remain ongoing in support of a directed project investigation to ensure actionable information that is operationalised through the issuing of early warnings to operational counterparts 21<br>

Pillar 4: Reactive through Detection: Case Management 22<br>

Analysis indicated that the Intercape cases reported in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape for the mentioned period were as follows:
Translux, ELDOS, Greyhound cases details not provided CASE FLOW 3 Comment: 1 person arrested for 1 count of Murder and 3 counts of Attempted Murder remains in custody. Three (3) Attempted Murder cases remain under investigation.<br>

RECENT RECORDED INCIDENTS: Gauteng 24<br>

10 47 incidents were reported that led to the opening of cases
3 people were arrested
Of these 47 cases, 11 was closed as undetected, 3 to court, 2 SPP, 6 withdrawn before court
25 cases are pending investigation to enable a decision to be made regarding the viability of the prosecution of the case
No case has been finalized as guilty
3 cases are on the court roll. Case Management: Stability / Instability Related Cases<br>

Case Management: Stability / Instability Related Cases 10<br>

Pillar 5: Communication and Liaison Establish media protocol;

Media releases and briefings;

Media monitoring;

Awareness campaigns;

Coordination of all general security related communication activities 27<br>

Conclusion Taxi operators perceive the operations of buses including the operation of long distance buses as a threat to their livelihood, particularly in areas where the majority of residents use buses as a preferred and cheaper mode of public transport

NATJOINTS Stability Priority Committee together with the EC and WC PROVJOINTS are monitoring the situation

Progress report and further intervention will be presented to the NATJOINTS 28<br>

Thank You 29<br>