A mother whose unemployed son was fined R9 000 after damaging a MyCiTi bus, took out a loan to pay for it.

Transport for Cape Town mayoral committee member Brett Herron said on Monday that the Atlantis man broke the window in Saxonsea early on September 6.

He said the actual damage, as well as loss in revenue from the bus being out of service for three days, added up to more than that amount.

“The city, however, agreed to this amount out of sympathy for the young man’s mother who took out a loan to pay for the damage on behalf of her son.”

The 22-year-old committed to pay the money into the city’s bank account as part of a plea bargain.
The city’s law enforcement officers were directed to his home thanks to the assistance of the local neighbourhood watch and eyewitnesses. He was subsequently arrested.

In another incident, two teens aged 14 and 15 were arrested after stoning a MyCiTi bus in Khayelitsha.

17 STONING INCIDENTS REPORTED A MONTH

They were charged with malicious damage to city property.

Herron said up to 17 stoning incidents were reported every month. Atlantis, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Table View were hotspots.

He said that in most cases, residents knew who the vandals were.

Damage to MyCiTi buses, caused by stone-throwing since the start of the year, amounted to almost R1.6m. This could rise to R2m by the end of the year, said Herron.

The city also had a problem with vandalism of bus stops and shelters, largely in Atlantis, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Table View and the inner city.

Herron appealed to residents to assist in identifying those who engaged in this conduct.

“I want to warn vandals that the City of Cape Town will not tolerate criminal damage to our buses and will actively pursue those who commit such crimes.

“Those arrested and successfully prosecuted will bear the consequences of their criminal acts.” News24