The following report appeared in the Sunday Times yesterday (1 August).
Hell for Cup tourists on evangelical bus
Buyekezwa Makwabe
A BRITISH tourist claimed he endured hellish torture on a bus in South Africa when he attended the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Jacob Ratcliffe, a 26-year-old salesman from Leeds, visited the country with his scriptwriter buddy, Tom Bidwell.
After watching their country’s national team being thrashed by Germany in Bloemfontein, the two boarded an Intercape bus to Cape Town.
They thought they would save some money by travelling by bus but little did they know exactly what awaited them.
Ratcliffe said they endured “six hours of right-wing evangelical broadcasting” on the bus.
“My friend and I had heard good things about the Intercape Sleepliner buses. They promised premium-class luxury with audio and visual entertainment. All was premium and luxurious until I awoke at 9am the next morning to the sound of the television …. I endured a barrage of insanely irresponsible broadcasting, which included a camp providing a miracle cure for Aids, a children’s cartoon that promised you could vanquish monsters if Jesus was with you, and a show that told me that if you had stolen a pencil from work you were going to hell.”
The “post-breakfast slot” offered the “full evangelical experience”. “It’s when they really get going – clearly God works best in the mornings,” Ratcliffe said.
Their only reprieve from relentless lectures on hell and damnation was when the hostess switched to a romantic comedy – Holyman Undercover – in which a farm missionary-wannabe heads to Los Angeles, where he falls in love and coins it by playing Satan.
“I sighed with relief when a feature film began, but recoiled in horror when I saw the title,” said traumatised Bidwell.
When they complained to the bus company about the evangelical content, they were told that the company only aimed to share God’s love and goodness.
“Our road statistics are almost non-existent compared to other transport operators (on) the continent. We believe this is because we start and end every journey with prayer,” said Hanli Marais, a pastor and “employee wellbeing officer”, in an e-mail to Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe said many passengers were disturbed by the negative tone used to portray God and religion. “A German couple sitting next to us said the God they know gives hope to people and does not take it away.
“The people who use the buses, unlike us tourists, are poor South Africans who cannot afford to fly. Surely they can put in a system where people can use earphones … if they wish.”
The company refused to comment on the complaint lodged by the British men.
“We see no need to comment about our spiritual belief. We feed and care for the poor and are actively involved in neglected communities throughout South Africa,” said Marais.
In August last year the CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation, Ranthoko Rakgoale, made a presentation to parliament about bus accidents in the country over a 30-month period.
Figures indicated that Intercape had 32 accidents – making the bus company the fourth worst in the country, ahead of embattled Roadlink, which was ranked at 13.
I’ve heard about this, its not the first time they were in the news regarding their god-mongering, if I remember correctly the last time they commented to the newspaper saying that if people dont like it they can shove it… (well, in nicer terms obviously).
Just something to keep in mind if you want to send the kids to go visit granma in the Cape…
Shareholders Vision
To spread the message of hope, repentance and restoration across the land and beyond, to give a perishing people in despair the good news of Jesus Christ and salvation through Him. 2 Chronicles 7:14. ? if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land?.
Purpose
To improve the mobility of people in Southern Africa and to provide an acceptable return on investment to its owners in order to build God?s Kingdom on earth
Golly-gee, I’m having fun dredging up the dregs on this one -
The entertainment is played on the buses' television screens with the sound broadcast from speakers which passengers cannot control, he said.
“If we get a few complaints from other religions, we don’t care about them. They don’t have to travel Intercape if they don’t want to,” said Louw.
The programming avoided sexually suggestive or violent content and focused on family values, he said.
“We’re not forcing anything down anybody’s throat in the same way that Nu Metro and Ster Kinekor are; not forcing the occult, sex or witchcraft. You can decide for yourself whether or not you accept it.”
He said the programming was “unashamedly” anti-evolution.
“Most of those complaints you mention are from evolutionists, but we of course know there is no proof for evolution. The origin of species is really a lie,” he said.
I think some cans of red paint and devil images may do the trick >:D…on the other hand, maybe they’ll be unable to evolve into a passenger-friendly company and become extinct.
i used to travel intercape quite a bunch, but a few years ago, and all i remember, is the lava hot tea they would give you while the bus is shaking like all hell.
but surely this kind of evangelical forcefullness is against the constitution?
and, surely, they must ensure that before they sell a ticket, that they make sure you are xtian, and dont mind listening to this shit.
i dont have the time right now to research this, but im sure that there must be something in our laws against this kind of behaviour.
I was on one of their busses on a pre-booked ticket just after a couple of them were in accidents and the whole controversy started. (The ticket had been bought before I realised they were that unsafe, but luckily it was uneventful). They seem to be completely on the flip-side of the coin. On the ride one of the movies was “Full Metal Jacket”, a depressingly grim, graphic, expletive laden depiction of life in the armed forces, definitely not suitable for minors (carries an 18 or R rating in most countries).
You’d think they’d be the ones trying to sell eternal life after death, given their mortality rate.
Haha, FMJ on a bus with kids on. Lol.
Travelled with them I guess 8 years back now, and they had Desperado on. Was very dissappointed that I had to get off before it was done, because I hadn’t seen it yet.
i think, more often than not, the in-ride entertainment is at the discretion of the cabin staff. as it is at stores accross our country. when the owner/manager isnt there… the mouse will play.
i used to work at mr price for a good while, so often when i enter a mr price, and the staff is black, yes i dare say it, black, then you are hearing metro fm, or some gospel crap.
even restaurants have it these days. and i really think its a case of people not complaining. you just grin and bear it. we are waaay to PC these days. whites are too scared to upset blacks. so blacks do what they want. and not even just a white/black issue. maybe even a class thing.
i, for one, am a right pain in the ass. i get up, shut people up in the cinemas, complain about shitty music, or overly loud music, complain about bad service. i pay for it, so by dog, i will demand my money’s worth.
i was trying to have a civilized meal and magazine in the local mugg and bean. and the bloody wrestling was on. sweat and spit all over. tattoed and oiled up balet drop-outs galore.
i called the waitron over, and asked him if he thinks this programming is appropriate for a family establishment. his quip was that some client had asked to watch it. i mean honestly. if i had kids, i sure as hell dont want them looking at that crap when trying to have a meal.
