Cape Town – Long-Range Bass Company Intercap appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Police on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, and in a desperate appeal to Congress, police forces to act to stop the ongoing acts of violence and threats.
The Portfolio Committee, chaired by DA Ian Cameron, has heard evidence of “attacks on long-distance bus operations” and a lack of response to the police crisis.
So far, Intercape has opened more than 200 cases with police, ranging from murder and attempted murder to threats and terror.
Despite submitting a large amount of evidence, police have not made one arrest and no one has been charged. See the video of the Intercape Fighting Face in Violence and Intimidation Campaigns.
Advocate's Kate Hofmeyr SC told the committee that the attacks on the intercaps are serious and that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has failed inadequately to these attacks, even if the police failings in statutory and constitutional duties.
The committee was urged to use its power to convene a hearing on the failure of SAPS. Key police members were called to provide evidence on this forum and to hold the public accountable for their failure.
Senior police administrators revealed for the first time at a Portfolio Committee meeting on Wednesday that a total of 11 arrests have been made in connection with the attack on the Intercape Bus.
Hofmeyr said he has received some surprising news of arrest despite the court's order that directed SAPS to notify the courts of the courts and progress related to the investigation.
Intercape and the Portfolio Committee are urgently waiting for further details from the police to verify claims related to the arrest and ongoing incident.
The company has also repeatedly appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa for intervention.
It also says the financial sacrifice of the intercape:
It covers the medical expenses of injured passengers, and has been forced to suspend services in certain towns in the Eastern Cape, exceeding R420 000, resulting in loss of revenue over R3 million in additional civil security spending, which has cost roughly R5.5 million on repair costs for the damaged coach.
But Intercape says corruption runs far deeper than the police alone, unable to deal with violence and threats directed at operations that threaten the lives of staff and passengers.
The company says the government does not respect the rule of law and violates its constitutional obligations.
This was after the company won a total of nine court orders to force the government to intervene to stop attacks and threatening behavior.
Intercape first approached the court in June 2022, as a result of a relentless violence campaign against the company and the failure of transport authorities to take the necessary steps to deal with the crisis.
However, despite winning all court cases brought against the government, Intercape says no meaningful steps have been taken to comply with the very specific order handed over by the High Court.
“This is a blatant case of court light emptying, committed by the government that declared a job sworn in support of the Constitution,” Intercape CEO Johann Fereira said.
According to Ferreira, the Minister of Police and Transport, their state counterparts, and national and state police chiefs are among those who “openly rejected court orders.”
Intercape is currently planning to launch a light emptying of court cases, alleging that various national bodies have openly ignored or ignored the Makanda High Court taking steps to prevent the campaign of violence and threats directed at the Intercape Operation.
“We are sitting in a situation where the South African High Court has handed over many orders that force the state to act, but the government is openly rebelling and contemptting our legal system,” Ferreira said.
Case history
Intercape challenged the government in two separate tides of lawsuits.
This is a breakdown of nine court orders granted by the High Court in support of the intercape against the government.
Action Plan Procedure
Order 1 – Makanda High Court
Intercape has launched a lawsuit seeking intervention from the Eastern Cape and the Minister of Transport in connection with threats directed towards the Intercape by the Eastern Cape Taxi Association in connection with conduct and intimidation in the Eastern Cape.
The order was advantageously granted on September 30, 2022.
Order 2
Respondents to the above-mentioned issues sought leave of appeal against this order.
The appeal was heard on December 14, 2022. The intercap appeal was heard, and the same day, and an application for an order was made that would be effective even if granted.
Order 3
The application for appeal leave was rejected on January 10, 2023, with the first order being finalized from this date.
Order 4
As a result of an insufficient action plan prepared by respondents (MEC and Minister of Transport) in accordance with the first order, Intercape has launched a second application to order the action plan to be revised and certain interim measures will be enforced until the final decision on the amendment plan is held back.
The NISI order was granted on June 14th, 2023. This means that respondents must return to court on the return date for reasons that the order should not be finalized.
Order 5
Respondents were unable to convince the court that the NISI rules should not be finalized, and the rules NISI was formally confirmed on August 22, 2023.
Order 6
Respondents sought leave of appeal against the order. Their application for leave applications was denied on July 9, 2024.
Order 7
An application by respondents for special leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals (SCA) was denied on September 26, 2024.
Order 8
The Intercap also dismissed court cases against SAPS state and national committee members due to its failure to comply with its interim obligations under the Regulations NISI and confirmation order.
Intercape was successful and the order was approved on December 19, 2023.
Investigation Procedure
Order 9
Intercape also launched lawsuits against SAPS and the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the Directorate, ensuring that crimes committed against the company are investigated as organized crimes by these national agencies.
This order was granted on February 6, 2024.
By agreement between the parties, Intercape did not oppose the respondent's application for leave of appeal, which was granted.
However, respondents have failed to file a notice of appeal with the SCA, and as such the appeal has expired.
