Samora Machel police are looking for these suspects who were caught on camera robbing Golden Arrows bus passengers.
The incident happened on Jakes Gerwel Drive on Friday morning while the near-empty bus was travelling from Cape Town to Lost City in Mitchells Plain at 9.47am.
The five armed suspects, who looked between 15 and 20-years-old, posed as passengers and waited for the bus in Turfhall Road in Athlone.
While travelling on Jakes Gerwel Drive, they told the about 15 passengers to be quiet and demanded their belongings.
They then instructed the driver to stop the bus and fled, leaving behind traumatised mense screaming at them.
SAPS’ Wesley Twigg confirmed the incident and said: “The suspects robbed the driver and passengers on the bus and fled.”
One of the victims, Anele Mehlo, 34, says he was so traumatised that he is now refusing to take the bus and made alternative travelling arrangements to work.
He went onto Facebook to appeal for help in identifying the suspects from footage taken from the bus camera.
In the pictures, masked suspects are seen grabbing people’s valuables and walking to the front of the bus.
“Luckily I had nothing on me at the time but it was horrifying to see people bullied like that and losing their stuff in a moment,” says Anele.
“People screamed and cried for their belongings as soon as the guys were out.
“They took bags, money, phones and anything they found interesting.
“Those guys were violent, we could not even try fighting them.
“I have never witnessed such a thing in my life, they did it like pros – quick and quietly.
“Within no time they ordered the driver to stop and they ran away.
“I was shaken and angry at the same time and I decided to not use the bus again, I cannot keep risking my life.
“I rather spend extra rands on taxis knowing I am safe.”
Golden Arrow Bus Services spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer confirms that six of the passengers were robbed.
“Our operations team immediately alerted SAPS and shared footage from the on-board cameras to all role players.
“Robberies in this location are very rare.
“The area is monitored by Metro Police and Law Enforcement and SAPS were on the scene,” she said.
Anyone with information about the suspects is urged to contact SAPS on 0800 10111.