GEORGE NEWS - George Mayor Leon van Wyk accompanied by James Robb, acting public transport oversight official of the municipality, paid a visit to the two patients still hospitalised after Wednesday’s petrol bomb attack on a Go George bus in Protea Road, New Dawn Park, Pacaltsdorp.
During the visit at George Hospital on Friday afternoon, they also had the opportunity to speak to some family members of the victims, who were most appreciative of the courtesy and interest shown. The mayor expressed the municipality’s compassion and the commitment of the Go George team to stay in constant contact with the families.
“It is apparent that the patients who we visited are still traumatised and suffering from shock following this senseless criminal attack on innocent passengers going about their daily business of using the Go George bus service to commute to work,” he said.
Shortly after the visit, the female patient was transported by air ambulance to a Cape Town hospital to receive treatment at a specialist burn unit.
Call for affected persons to come forward
Robb reiterated the call for persons affected in any way by the incident to phone the Go George call centre on 0800 044 044 and leave their names and contact details.
“The crisis team will make contact with such persons, whether they had been injured, suffered from shock or witnessed the incident, and arrange for counselling where needed,” he said.
Several organisations and individuals have already reached out to offer support. Robb invites organisations or members of the community who would also like to express their solidarity and care in some way, to phone the call centre or send an email to info@gogeorge.org.za so that all the kind efforts can be coordinated to make a real difference where needed.
Reward offered for information about bus bombers
Following the bombing, George Municipality and Western Cape Government have resolved to combine resources in offering a financial reward to help bring the perpetrators to book.
Van Wyk strongly condemned the incident where 11 passengers were taken to hospital by ambulance - eight of them have been treated for burn wounds of whom two have been admitted to hospital. The police are investigating the incident.
“We are abhorred at the atrocious act and want to see those responsible meet the full brunt of the law,” van Wyk said. “We need the cooperation of the community to come forward with any information that could lead to the conviction of these persons. We cannot and will not allow this type of action to jeopardise the safety of our residents and the operations of our much needed public bus service.”
People with information regarding the attack should phone the Go George call centre on 0800 044 044.
Call centre agents will notify the designated person(s) to return the call and take down information which will be treated with the utmost confidence.
Take note that only information that leads to conviction will be considered for the reward.
Related articles:
- Bus bombed, 11 injured
- Update: Bomb attack on a Go George bus
- Fourteen patients to hospital
- Commuters injured by bomb attack on a Go George bus
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