Two trains torched in Durban

File photo: Leon Nicholas

File photo: Leon Nicholas

Published Jan 31, 2013

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Durban - Two trains were set alight on Thursday at KwaMnyandu Station outside Durban, resulting damages of R40 million, Metrorail said.

“One train was en route to Durban from Umlazi while the other was en route to Umlazi from Durban,” spokeswoman Thandi Mkhize said.

Mkhize said a group of agitated commuters torched the trains because of delays Ä which were the result of cable theft at Duff Road Ä and vandalised points at KwaMnyandu Station in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Trains travelling to KwaMashu and Umlazi were delayed for about 30 minutes.

“A group of agitated commuters attempted to force a train en route to Umlazi to turn around at KwaMnyandu. They then proceeded to torch the two trains while other commuters were on board,” Mkhize said.

She said commuters also attempted to stone the buses that were arranged to transport commuters to their destinations, but the police intervened and got the situation under control.

No injuries were reported.

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa CEO Mosenngwa Mofi condemned the acts of violence.

“We are determined to throw the book at those found guilty of this criminality, and will lobby prosecuting authorities to charge them with wilful destruction of public property, economic sabotage and even attempted murder where people have been injured as a result of their actions,” Mofi said. - Sapa

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