Intercape buses travelling long routes, are among the bus operators that were regularly targeted
Bail has been denied for seven suspects linked to a bus extortion syndicate who faces 156 charges stemming from a massive racketeering and intimidation ring that disrupted public transport across multiple provinces.
The accused, Bonke Makalala, Simphiwe Mtshala, Mzuvukile Mbiyo, Siyanda Dyantyti, Gwendoline Mazele, Siphelele Kwaza, and, Simphiwe Gxumayo appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court.
They face charges including racketeering, extortion, attempted extortion, intimidation, money laundering, kidnapping, interference with essential infrastructure, contraventions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca), and failure to submit tax returns in contravention of the Tax Administration Act.
The group was arrested in Cape Town, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape, respectively, in March.
