Staff Writer and Sapa
CONTINUED attacks on trains may lead to a suspension in services, Passenger Rail Agency of SA chief executive Mosenngwa Mofi said yesterday.
“The continued lawlessness may force our hand to close the central lines in the Western Cape until protesters desist from destroying state assets and communities expose these criminals .
“How can we risk bringing new trains and infrastructure when the current service is not safe?” he said after his visit to Khayelitsha to assess damage to a train and station facilities protesters had set alight on Wednesday night.
Metrorail spokeswoman Riana Scott said protesters set an empty train alight at Chris Hani station forcing the train driver and guard to flee. Four carriages, one a motor coach, were destroyed and overhead electrical equipment and mast poles were damaged.
Shortly after, protesters attempted to torch the nearby Kuyasa station.
“A conservative costing of the latest damage is R8 million, excluding the damage to the station and the overhead electrical equipment,” Scott said.
Mayco member for transport Brett Herron condemned the vandalism as “shocking and sickening”.
He said a MyCiTi bus was stoned near the Kuyasa station about 6pm. No passengers were injured and the bus was withdrawn from service because of a smashed window.
Herron said they had been issuing free MyCiTi myconnect cards from the Kuyasa ticket station. This was now closed until further notice.
“Tragically, following last night’s incident, it is the residents of Khayelitsha who are suffering the most,” he said.
Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director Ruben Richards said: “Nobody gains anything from these attacks but everybody, including the perpetrators, are left poorer. The people who suffer most are those who are trying to help themselves and their families by going to work and to colleges and universities. They are the ones who most need and deserve our help and support.”
Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said a case of malicious damage to property was opened and no arrests had yet been made.