2 Arrested for Putco Bus Inferno Appear in Mpumalanga Court, Case Postponed

• Police arrested two men for allegedly setting 51 buses on fire at Putco depots in KwaMhlanga and Siyabuswa
• Armed men in various vehicles assaulted and robbed depot employees before torching the buses on 27 January 2025
• Two suspects, Isaac Mabena and Luthando Skosana, appeared in the Mdutjane Magistrate Court for the crimes
• Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli told Briefly News that they faced charges of malicious damage to property and robbery

SIYABUSWA — Two Mpumalanga men arrested for torching 51 Putco buses at three depots stood in court to face charges for the alleged crimes on Thursday, 6 February 2025.

Isaac Mabena, 36, and Luthando Skosana, 29, were arrested on Tuesday, 28 January, before appearing in the Mdutjane Magistrate Court in Siyabuswa two days later. The case was later postponed for a formal bail application.

2 Alleged Putco fire starters in court

It comes after armed suspects in a Toyota Quantum, Mercedes-Bez Vito, and VW Polo, went on a rampage in the Nkangala District on 27 January.

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This saw 16 buses gutted in Moloto, situated in the Kwamhlanga policing precinct, and 35 in the Siyabuswa policing areas of Thabane and Maphotla.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said they allegedly assaulted a few employees, with a security guard sustaining a gunshot wound.

"Wearing balaclavas and black clothing, they also reportedly held the employees at gunpoint during the attack," said Mdhluli.

"During their arrests, one of the suspects was found with a stolen cellphone and a 9mm pistol magazine without ammunition."

He said police believed the men arrested were involved in the depot incidents and further investigations were ongoing.

He added, in response to Briefly News, that they faced malicious damage to property and robbery charges.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy condemned the attack, calling it economic sabotage. Creecy instructed the department to work with the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) for an urgent response.

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Their case was again postponed for a week to 13 February, where their formal bail application is expected to proceed. They remain in custody.

Alleged cop car arsonist swiftly arrested

In related news, Briefly News reported that black smoke from a burning police bakkie tainted a clear blue sky above the Mhala police station in Thulamahashe, Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.

The fire sparked a short chase for a suspected arsonist, seen fleeing after the alarm was sounded, alerting the police to the fiery scenes in broad daylight at about 3:30 pm on Saturday, 18 January 2025.

Source: Briefly News