Makhanda (Grahamstown) – Intercape Ferreira Mainliner (Pty) Ltd has accused local municipalities in the Eastern Cape of unlawfully targeting its operations and criticised the police for failing to protect it against ongoing violence, in direct violation of court orders.
Intercape on Friday, 26 June 2026, revealed that it was now pursuing contempt of court proceedings against individual members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), with the threat of 90-day terms of imprisonment.
Intercape said municipal traffic departments continue to unlawfully impound buses and issue fines in direct violation of existing court orders.
It further accuses SAPS of continuing to fall short of its constitutional and court-ordered obligations to protect passengers, drivers and operations from ongoing violence and intimidation.
Intercape said in the latest incident on 19 June 2026, a passenger was badly injured and hospitalised after one of its buses was targeted by rock-throwing assailants as it entered Engcobo.
Regarding this recurring matter, Intercape said earlier this month that it secured three High Court rulings in its favour in just 14 days.
The long-distance bus company said regarding its complaints it has achieved an unbroken legal record of 17 consecutive rulings in its favour at the High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division (Makhanda).
Intercape said the latest judgments focusing on Dutywa and Engcobo, against the Mbhashe Local Municipality, SAPS and the Dr AB Xuma District Municipality, reaffirmed the bus company’s lawful right to operate throughout the Eastern Cape.
The bus company complained that instead of protection, as directed by court orders, its buses were being unfairly targeted, resulting in the unlawful impounding of buses and fines in direct violation of existing court orders.
Intercape said the judgements reinforced existing court orders directing the police and local municipalities to protect – rather than obstruct – its operations.
“The law could not be clearer,” Intercape said in a statement made available to The Bulrushes.
“Seventeen separate court victories have consistently confirmed our operating rights, the validity of our licences and the legal obligation on the authorities to protect our passengers.
“Yet unlawful interference continues.”
Intercape has warned that this situation will no longer be tolerated.
“Any official who deliberately ignores or violates existing court orders will be pursued personally through contempt of court proceedings,” warned the statement.
“Courts have already indicated that continued non-compliance may result in imprisonment of up to 90 days.”
The Eastern Cape government has not issued a strong public rebuttal to Intercape’s claims but continues to enforce traffic regulations against the long-distance bus company.
