‘I could feel the blood dripping’

Trains in and out of Johannesburg's Park Station were delayed by up to 90 minutes, Gauteng Metrorail said. File picture: Cindy Waxa

Trains in and out of Johannesburg's Park Station were delayed by up to 90 minutes, Gauteng Metrorail said. File picture: Cindy Waxa

Published Jul 9, 2014

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Cape Town - Police are investigating a case of assault after a security guard at Steenberg train station allegedly stabbed a commuter who had travelled without a valid train ticket on Tuesday.

Johnston Mutshipayi, 37, from Wynberg, said he was travelling from Wittebome to Steenberg for a job interview. With him on the train was his sister, Francine Wayiwayi.

Mutshipayi had in his possession a monthly ticket for Cape Town to Retreat station which was one station before Steenberg. He said when he got to the Steenberg ticket check-point, he ran past the ticket examiner and was chased by three security guards. He alleged he was stabbed after he fell on a step.

Mutshipayi said he was told to pay a R47 defaulters fee, which he did. “While I was paying, I put my hand in my pocket and I could feel the blood dripping. I showed the station facilitator the blood, but he said I could not prove that the security guard did it to me,” Mutshipayi said, and added that he remembered vividly the face of the man who allegedly stabbed him.

Wayiwayi said she felt helpless and expected the security to be proactive in attending to her brother. “I saw blood all over the place. But the security was just standing around and did nothing to help,” she said.

After the incident, Mutshipayi took another train to Muizenberg Police station to lodge a complaint.

Police spokesman Andrè Traut said a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was being investigated.

Metrorail spokeswoman Riana Scott said it was aware of a scuffle that ensued between a suspected fare evader and security. “The only incident recorded at Steenberg this morning was a suspected fare evader who fled from our security staff and fell down some stairs in his haste to elude them. If this proves to be the same incident, we encourage the complainant and any witnesses to contact our Head Protection Services to investigate. Should any non-conformances be found, we will not hesitate to take action against security contractors and/or employees,” Scott said.

Paramedics sent to the scene treated Mutshipayi at the station and he later went to Plumstead Day Hospital for further treatment.

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Cape Times

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