Putco bus fire: Police recover employee’s stolen phone from suspect
Police have gained a major lead after recovering a cellphone stolen from a Putco employee during the attack.
The discovery of a cellphone belonging to one of the victims who was held at gunpoint during the Putco bus burnings has led to a major breakthrough for police.
The phone was found on the person of one of the two suspects, aged 29 and 37, who were arrested on Tuesday evening, 28 January 2025, in connection with the attacks that saw 51 Putco buses set alight in Mpumalanga’s Nkangala District.
Hours after the reckless torchings, acting Mpumalanga police commissioner Major-General Zeph Mkhwanazi immediately initiated an investigation to hunt down the arsonists that carried out this brazen crime.
A series of leads eventually brought them to the two suspects.
Police also recovered a magazine for a 9mm pistol in their possession, but said that the gun it contained no ammunition.
The evidence recovered had led authorities to believe that these suspects were directly involved in the large-scale Putco arson attack.
COORDINATED ATTACK ON MULTIPLE PUTCO DEPOTS
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, the suspects are believed to have been part of a group of armed individuals who stormed multiple Putco depots on Monday night, 27 January 2025. The attackers, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, arrived in a white Toyota Quantum, a Vito Minibus, and a VW Polo.
During the attack, they forced employees at gunpoint to comply with their demands before setting the buses alight. “A total of 16 buses were destroyed in Moloto, which falls under the Kwamhlanga Policing Precinct, while another 35 were torched in Siyabuswa at the Thabane and Maphotla depots,” said Mdhluli.
The attackers also assaulted several Putco employees, robbing them and shot a security guard, who is currently still receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.
POLICE WILL CONTINUE INVESTIGATIONS
Authorities have not yet revealed a potential motive behind the arson attacks, but have said that the arrests of these two suspects will likely lead police to the other individuals who were involved.
“We believe these two suspects played a role in the attack, but our investigation is still ongoing,” said Mdhluli. “More arrests could follow as we work to bring all those responsible to justice.”
Major-General Mkhwanazi praised the investigative team for their swift work. “We are encouraged by the results so far and hope that more suspects will be apprehended soon,” he said.
PREMIER COMMENDS POLICE WORK
Premier of Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu, took to social media to commend the police on the case breakthrough.
“This senseless act of vandalism has severely impacted the community, disrupting the daily commute of workers and students, as well as causing significant losses to the affected company. The law must take its course, and those responsible must face the full consequences of their actions,” he said.