Five arrested after bus attack outside Dutywa leaves vehicle alight and passengers robbed

Five suspects are in custody after a dawn attack on a privately owned bus outside Dutywa that ended with the vehicle ablaze and passengers robbed, police said.

What happened

Police were summoned at about 07:15am on Tuesday after a complaint that a group of suspects travelling in several bakkies had allegedly pelted a bus with stones along Colosa Road in Chachazela, Chisela A/A, just outside Dutywa. At the scene officers and other law enforcement agencies found the bus engulfed in flames with no occupants inside.

Robbery and injuries

Preliminary investigations found that the suspects had allegedly robbed the occupants of their personal belongings, including cash, before setting the bus alight. A police spokesperson, Captain Majola Nkohli, said the driver and another passenger sustained minor injuries, while the other passengers escaped unscathed.

Second bus rescued and arrests

While officers were at the first scene, they received a report that another bus was being chased by people travelling in bakkies nearby. The team located and rescued the second bus before any damage occurred. Police arrested five men aged between 25 and 56 after linking them to the first crime scene.

Charges and next steps

The five are due to appear in the Dutywa magistrate’s court on 30 September 2026 on charges of malicious damage to property, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, Captain Nkohli said.

Official reaction

Acting Amathole District Commissioner Brigadier Zinikele Freddie praised the multi-agency response, saying,

“Fighting crime is a collective responsibility.”