The United National Transport Union (UNTU) demands that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) appoint two guards armed with automatic firearms to accompany metro train drivers and metro train guards on the Central line in Cape Town.
This comes after two other violent attacks by criminals over the past few days on the now notorious railway line where train driver Pieter Botha (46) was shot twice in the head a month ago.
Mr. Brian Davids, Executive Council Member and full time union representative, says enough is enough. “If PRASA cannot secure the railway line and with the assistance of the South African Police Service (SAPS) make an end to this crime spree, then the Central line must be closed.”
According to Davids bus service must be introduced to replace the Central line as it would be safer for commuters and employees of PRASA to use.
This comes after a train guard was assaulted by a commuter on Saturday on the Central line while the Security Guards witnessed the attack, but did nothing to assist.
The following evening the train guard gave the train driver three bells at Nolungile Station. When the train driver went to the back to investigate the reason for the three bells, he found the train guard being held at gun point. The train service was suspended due to the incident.
“Since Mr. Botha’s tragic death UNTU has repeatedly demanded a meeting with the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, to discuss PRASA’s blatant disregard for the safety of its employees and to demand that the South African Railway Police be re-establish.
“After an open letter to the Minister by Mr. Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, the Ministers office responded with a request for dates for a meeting to take place. However we are still awaiting confirmation for such meeting .With every passing day, more lives are being placed at risk,” Davids says.
UNTU is of view that PRASA is not fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide a safe and secure working environment for its employees. Davids says Train Crew members are driving in fear on the Central line and that compromises their safety and the safety of commuters. “They are now on the lookout for the criminals instead of focusing on the signals.”
Mr. Davids was assured by the head of security at PRASA that the incidents are taken very seriously and has been escalated by the railway operator to the national office of the SAPS’s Rapid Rail Police.
“The fact is that since the Railways Police merged with the SAPS in 1989 the safety at railway stations has deteriorated drastically. UNTU no longer has any faith in the ability of the so called Rapid Rail Police unit to solve the crisis,” Mr. Davids says.
For enquiries please phone Mr. Davids on 082 043 5879.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Releases e-mail sonja@untu.co.za or phone 082 463 6806.
