Driver escapes as Johannesburg bus catches fire on R59

A bus caught fire while driving on the R59 in Thulisa Park on Wednesday afternoon.

The City of Ekurhuleni's Department of Emergency Management Services (DEMS) was contacted and immediately dispatched firefighters from Alberton and Thokoza, who responded with two fire engines and one water tank.

Upon arrival, they found a bus that belonged to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), alight with no commuters on it. The crew started to extinguish the fire, but the bus was destroyed.

The driver said he just saw smoke coming from the back of the bus and also noticed other motorists hooting at him. He immediately stopped and managed to escape without any harm.

"The cause of the fire is still unknown, and local authorities are yet to investigate," DEMS spokesperson Eric Maloka said.

Maloka urged the public to reach out to the DEMS call centre for any life-threatening emergencies on 011 458 0911 or 112.

The Star