Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

The bus service between Pietermaritzburg and Emgodini remains suspended after attacks on buses by taxi operators.

The bus company management said this week that attacks had forced them to stop operations.

Three Imbali Yezwe Transport buses were ambushed last month, bringing the number of attacks to eight.

Alpheus Ndlela, a spokesman for the bus company, said the problem started three months ago when the community of Emgodini asked for a bus service.

"The community came to us and demanded that we start a bus service for their area. We turned them down and asked them to speak to local taxi people about the matter," said Ndlela.

He said after a few days, the community brought letters signed by the taxi operators saying they would not have a problem with buses operating in the area.

"As soon as we sent buses there, taxi operators chased them out.

"The community retaliated by preventing taxis from operating, demanding that buses be allowed to transport commuters alongside the taxis," Ndlela added.