The bail application of the four suspects linked to the arson and damage to property of 50 Putco buses last month has been postponed to February 19.

The decision, made by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), was aimed at allowing for further profiling of two of the accused — Steven Sipho Ndlovu and Mduduzi Luvuyo Msimango — before their formal bail applications could resume.

Monica Nyuswa, the spokesperson for the NPA’s regional division, confirmed the postponement and explained that the two suspects had appeared in the Mdutjane Magistrate’s Court the day prior for legal representation processes.

“Yes, the four suspects appeared briefly on Thursday and the case was postponed to 19 February for accused 3 and 4 to be profiled, and for the formal bail application to resume,” she said.

Following this, the case for the continuation of the bail hearings was deferred to next week.

The grievous arson incident, which took place on January 28, has already caused significant repercussions for the affected bus company, Putco, which estimates its damages to exceed R200 million.

The coordinated assault on the bus fleet took place at four depots within the Nkangala District, posing a substantial threat not only to public transport safety but also to the economic stability of the wider community.

This comes a day after Ndlovu and Msimango (accused three and four) appeared before the same court on Wednesday for legal representation processes before the matter was moved to Thursday for bail application. However, this was deferred to next Wednesday.

Ndlovu and Msimango are charged on similar charges to those of their co-accused, Isaac Mabena and Luthando Skosana, who were arrested last month after police linked them to their involvement in the R250 million destruction of part of Putco’s fleet at four depots in the province.

According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdluli, the last two suspects were arrested on Tuesday at Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga while the first pair was arrested two weeks ago.

“The suspects have been charged with malicious damage to property. The arrests by the assigned team were made as part of an ongoing investigation into the incident that occurred on 28 January 2025, where several Putco buses were set on fire in Nkangala District. The suspects are believed to have been involved in the coordinated attack on the bus fleet, causing significant damage to the vehicles and posing a threat to public safety,” said Mdhluli.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za