Embattled Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and United National Transport Union (UNTU) members were on a knife-edge at the Bonteheuwel-Netreg station yesterday following a shootout that saw a 31-year-old Metrorail Protection Service (MPS) official rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital.
Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said: “The incident happened at 3.34 this morning while on vehicle patrol in the notorious Bontheuwel-
Netreg area. According to his colleague’s statement, they spotted four men near the tracks.
“On approaching them, the men opened fire on their vehicle. Multiple shots were fired; three struck the vehicle and one hit the driver in the chest.
"His colleague rushed him to hospital where he is awaiting surgery to remove the bullet,” said Scott.
Metrorail regional manager Richard Walker said it was unforgivable that criminals continued to hold communities ransom.
“We will assist with the police investigation and trust that the perpetrators will face the full might of the law,” said Walker.
UNTU general secretary Steve Harris said: “While Prasa and the SAPS have wasted months debating who is not doing their job, our innocent members - who only try to earn a living by serving train commuters to the best of their ability and poor commuters who have no other alternative but to make use of trains, the cheapest form of public transport in South Africa - are losing their lives on the railway lines.
“UNTU calls on all South Africans, irrespective of whether or not you are forced to use trains as public transport, to stand together and call on our government to act now and force the police and Prasa to protect our members and innocent commuters,” said Harris.
Western Cape MEC of Transport and Public Works Donald Grant said, “Criminal activities of this nature threaten not only Metrorail’s ability to run a safe and reliable public transport system, but also the livelihood of many who rely on the service.
"The fact that Metrorail’s efforts to secure their rail assets are met with such extreme violence is deeply concerning, and should be worrying to us all.”
“I hope that the injured official recovers speedily, and that these assailants are brought to book soon, sending a clear message that crime directed at transport infrastructure will not be tolerated,” said Grant.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said anyone with information about the incident should contact Crime Stop on 086 001 0111 or the Bishop Lavis SAPS.