Intercape, one of South Africa’s most trusted long-distance bus operators for over 45 years, is in the midst of an existential crisis. Attacks on its buses — and specifically its drivers — have increased in recent years, with signs pointing to organized crime and mafia-style intimidation.

Every day, Intercape operates over 120 trips across the country, employing more than 1,500 dedicated staff and transporting over 3 million passengers annually. But drivers now say they fear for their lives every time they report to work.

In April 2022, tragedy struck when Intercape bus driver Mangi Kaya Makana was assassinated in broad daylight just meters from the company’s Cape Town head office. This marked a devastating escalation in the targeted violence toward Intercape employees.

Despite winning eight court cases related to its right to operate safely, the company reports that the Minister of Police, Minister of Transport, the Hawks, and other government entities have failed to comply with court orders to implement safety plans. According to the court, both immediate and long-term security measures were to be put in place — yet none have materialized.

Intercape CEO has publicly stated that this is not just a company crisis — it’s a national safety emergency. What began in 2016 as disputes over permits with taxi associations has now escalated into full-blown violence, stone-throwing, and shootings. Intercape believes the state’s failure to act amounts to contempt of court — and that the current situation resembles an act of domestic terrorism.