Intercape Bus Robbery Carried Out “Movie Style by 8 Armed Robbers” says Passenger

Intercape, a luxury coach transport service in Southern Africa, has confirmed that eight armed robbers held up one of its buses travelling from Johannesburg to Harare (in Zimbabwe) on Saturday 7 December 2019.

The incident, in which four of the gang members had apparently boarded the bus previously pretending to be passengers, occurred at around 23h00. The robbery reportedly took place near Kranskop tollgate on the N1 in Limpopo. Two of the ‘pretend’ passengers pointed guns at the driver and ordered him to stop whilst another vehicle pulled up with about four more gang members who climbed aboard and proceeded to rob the passengers.

In a statement, the Intercape bus company said: “This completely random, uncontrollable act by criminals masquerading as passengers is regretted by Intercape.

“We would like to confirm that as an organisation we strive to keep our passengers safe at all times. Intercape would like to apologise to our most valued passengers for any inconvenience.”

One of the passengers described the frightening events on the night, just after it happened:

“For colleagues that may plan to travel to SA by road, please be warned. I am on an lnter Cape bus right now and just before midnight we experienced a shocking robbery executed movie style by 8 armed robbers (one had AK rifle, others had pistols and knives)

“4 were on the bus as passengers who stopped the bus, and they were joined by extra 4 men to make 8 in total, they terrorized all passengers and demanded cash and cellphones.

“Some were beaten but no one seriously injured. My family is OK but we are heavily traumatized. We lost 2 phones and just over 1,500 Rands, my son lost a jacket and l also lost a satchel which had my car keys.

“We thank God that we are alive and have all our passports. l will think twice about visiting SA by road. For once l appreciate our beautiful country with all its imperfections.

“As robbery occurred we were commanded to close curtains and not to look at them, l was roughed up a bit but l had already hidden my second phone handset but the most scaring part was watching wife and kids being terrorized and not being able to intervene in any way.

“We passed through some police stations in SA but they didn’t seem that interested so now l am only keen to get out of this country. Also thankful to driver who managed to continue driving while the whole robbery occurred was ongoing.”

The passenger said he has since heard of a similar robbery a few days before in which people were injured, and advised colleagues in foreign countries to consider alternative travel arrangements if visiting South Africa, or to take precautions.

Intercape bus company says the incident has been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Polokwane. No arrests have been made.