Another two members of the United National Transport Union (UNTU), both security guards from Insingizi, were robbed of their company firearms and cell phones this morning.
The two guards accompanied the train crew of train 9474, when four armed robbers overpowered them and the crew, as they turned around at Umlazi, the fourth largest township in South Africa located south-west of Durban.
The robbers fired two rounds in the air before they fled the scene. Pieter Greyling, Deputy General Secretary of UNTU, says the union is grateful that its members escaped without any injuries.
This latest incident comes a day after there were once again delays, on the notorious Central line between Cape Town and Khayelitsha in the Western Cape, due to vandalism.
“So much for Metrorail’ attempts to beef up its safety and security plan before the upcoming Festive Season. It appears too little is being done too late. Over the past six months UNTU has repeatedly warned about the deteriorating security situation and pleaded with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to act fast to combat this, but to no avail. The result is that criminals succeed in making a mockery out of their so-called increased security plans, “says Greyling.
This comes after Metrorail promised earlier this week that law enforcement officials will be deployed at any given time to net criminals and ticket defaulters.
UNTU is in the process of bringing a court application against PRASA to ask the court to order the state-owned enterprise to comply with the principals of the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Constitution by providing a safe working environment for its employees and our members, says Greyling.
For enquiries phone Greyling on 076 084 7131.
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.
