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By Siphokazi Vuso 
10h ago
Cape Town – A Golden Arrow Bus (Gabs) traveler who took the wheel and drove other passengers to safety after a robbery was hailed as a hero for his bravery.
Ashley Europe “saved the day” after a panicked bus driver escaped while three men robbed passengers at gunpoint last week.
After the robbery, Europa drove the passengers to their respective stops and returned the bus to Golden Arrow.
Working as a cleaner for a company at V&A Waterfront, the 24-year-old said he didn’t care about himself, but about other passengers.
“It was around 6/7 pm when the bus left Cape Town through Hanover Park. These guys were on the bus the whole time, but no one knew they were going to rob us. They started robbing people on the bus. They took money from the people. I was the first to be robbed, ”he said.
The father of one said he sat in the driver’s seat with the intention of getting everyone home safely.
“I lied to people and said ‘since I was 13 I know how to drive a bus,’ but that was just to make them feel comfortable. I had never driven a bus before, it was the first time. I took everyone to their stops and drove to Spine Road to get the bus back because I live on this side. I couldn’t run in that situation because I didn’t know the place there, I don’t live there.
“We were a lot of people, almost 20 to 30. There was an old woman in front. What was I going to do in the situation? I wanted to go home, they wanted to get home and the driver had left, ”he said.
The breadwinner at home, Europa, said he wished Golden Arrow could give him a job “and I wish they could replace my things that were taken because I’m the only one working here in my house.”
His proud mother, Francis Europa, said her son was brave to put others before himself.
Gabs spokesman Bronwen Dyke-Beyer said a case was registered with police at the Mitchells Plain Police Station.
“Golden Arrow can confirm that a robbery occurred aboard one of our buses Tuesday night around 7:50 pm in Govan Mbeki, Crossroads and that a passenger subsequently drove the bus to the Town Center terminal,” he said.
“At this stage an investigation is being carried out into what exactly happened and what measures should be taken. This is an unprecedented situation and several factors must be taken into account. Passengers should not under any circumstances, no matter how well-intentioned, attempt to drive a bus, ”Dyke-Beyer said.
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