Makanda (Grahamstown) – Intercape Ferreira Mainliner Pty Ltd. has accused local authorities in the Eastern Cape of illegally targeting its operations and criticized police for failing to protect the city from ongoing violence in direct contravention of court orders.
Intercape revealed on Friday, June 26, 2026, that it is threatening individual members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) with 90 days in jail for contempt of court.
Intercape said the city's transportation department continues to illegally seize buses and impose fines in direct violation of the current court order.
It also accuses SAPS of continuing to fail in its constitutional and court-ordered obligations to protect passengers, drivers and operators from continued violence and intimidation.
Intercape announced that in the latest incident on June 19, 2026, one of the buses entering Encobo was targeted by stone-throwing attackers, leaving a passenger hospitalized with serious injuries.
Earlier this month, Intercape announced that it had secured three high court judgments in its favor in just 14 days regarding this recurring issue.
The coach company said it had achieved an unbroken legal record with 17 consecutive judgments in its favor in the South African Eastern Cape Division (Makanda) High Court regarding complaints.
Intercape said the latest judgment against Mbashe Municipality, SAPS and Dr AB Xuma District Municipality, focusing on Dutiwa and Ngcobo, reaffirmed the bus company's legal right to operate across the Eastern Cape.
The bus companies complained that in lieu of court-ordered protection, their buses were unfairly targeted, resulting in illegal seizures of their buses and fines in direct violation of existing court orders.
Intercape said the ruling strengthens existing court orders directing police and local governments to protect rather than impede its operations.
“The law could not be more clear,” Intercape said in a statement published on The Bull Rush.
“Seventeen separate court victories have consistently confirmed our concession, the validity of our license and our legal obligations to the authorities to protect our passengers.
“Yet the illegal interference continues.”
Intercape warned that the situation was no longer acceptable.
“Officials who intentionally ignore or violate existing court orders will be personally pursued for contempt of court,” the statement warned.
“Courts have already indicated that continued violations can result in up to 90 days in prison.”
Although the Eastern Cape government has not issued a strong public rebuttal to Intercape's claims, it continues to impose traffic restrictions on long-distance bus companies.
