Lisa Isaacs
AS METRORAIL commuters continue to face trains running late, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has called vandalism of trains and infrastructure ”acts of terror on state-owned assets”.
Prasa acting chief executive Nathi Khena said last year the parastatal lost R128 million as a result of arson attacks, and in just three weeks this year 17 coaches have been lost to the tune of R70m.
“This has coincided with the unprotected strike action by 182 provincial Satawu (SA Transport and Allied Workers Union) members.” Khena said while a suspect had been arrested and “interrogated” in connection with the attacks, a R100 000 reward stands for anyone who can identify criminals.
“This person is a former employee of a service provider in the cleaning space. He was dismissed.”
Satawu shop steward Luntu Sokutu said criminals may use the strike as a means to carry out revenge attacks on Metrorail. He also distanced the union from the attacks.
Satawu’s strike against Metrorail was temporarily suspended earlier this month after the rail agency obtained an interim court interdict to prevent its employees from embarking on industrial action.
A final ruling was scheduled to be made yesterday but was postponed to today.
The judge, however, asked Satawu to put active measures in place to inform its members to comply with the court orders.
Sokutu said its members would abide by the request.
Meanwhile, Cosatu regional secretary Tony Ehrenreich said Cosatu, Metrorail and the Cape Chamber of Commerce would meet to discuss the transport “crisis”.
“We will meet on Tuesday and if we don’t get a favourable end result, we will embark on a strike as early as next week.”
Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said variable delays would continue to be experienced until all damaged infrastructure was repaired.
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