MEDIA STATEMENT: Latest train fire causes further strain on a commuter rail service in crisis.
Long-suffering commuters will once again be stranded and left scrambling for alternative transport after yet another train fire at Cape Town station last night.
This latest incident means chaos for commuters. According to a statement from PRASA, platforms 12, 13 and 16-19, remain closed as a result of previous fire damage.
While the cause of this fire is not yet known, it follows a spate of arson attacks that started in back 2015. As we have stated before, trains started burning after Lucky Montana, Sfiso Buthelezi, Arthur Fraser, Roy Moodley and other racketeers were exposed by then Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela. Previous fires have coincided with important PRASA and government actions against the corrupt within PRASA. The announcement of the new Transport Minister is expected at any moment, and the timing of these attacks seems to be a warning from the state capture criminals.
#UniteBehind has been calling for commuter rail to be declared a national disaster. This will unlock additional government funds and ensure that all spheres of government work together to determine who is orchestrating these attacks and #FixOurTrains. Blade Nzimande, the previous Minister of Transport, has failed to heed our calls. If he had he could have prevented these attacks.
Sabotage of trains obscures the greater crisis of train maintenance. 2000 carriages remain unfixed because PRASA under Montana outsourced most overhaul and maintenance to irregularly or unlawfully appointed contractors.
Despite spending more than R1.5 billion on the General Overhaul programme last year, according to the Minister’s reply to a parliamentary question, coaches that can be fixed still lay rusting. There is no clear plan to fix this. Now that the new MPs have been sworn in, parliament must do its oversight job and ask why these trains remain unfixed.
The next Minister of Transport must make fixing commuter rail an urgent priority. Commuter rail should be the most efficient, reliable and affordable form of public transport but it is in the midst of a crisis. This is one of the main reasons why #UniteBehind and affiliates were at parliament last week to remind the new MPs to uphold their constitutional duties. We have also requested a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss the issues faced by commuters on a daily basis. Public representatives need to ensure that services such as a safe public transport service get delivered, especially to working-class people.
Over the last year, #UniteBehind has formally and informally offered the Minister, the PRASA Board and Management, as well as SAPS assistance to help identify the criminal network behind the sabotage. The Board, SAPS and the Ministry have ignored us. Our commitment still stands. We are willing to work together with government to #FixOurTrains and we hope they will come to the table this time.
For more information contact #UniteBehind member Laddie Bosch 0835402198
#UniteBehind is a coalition of people’s movements joined by legal, policy and research organisations working for a just and equal society where the people share in the country’s wealth and our environment is protected for future generations.
ENDS