Western Cape train arson: SAPS ‘incapable of preventing vandalism’

The Western Cape Police Ombusdsman (WCPO) has found that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has demonstrated a lack of efficiency and inability to prevent vandalism and arson on the province’s rail service. 

There have been a plethora of incidents in which carriages were torched and trains vandalised to the point that they become unsuitable for the public to board, and complaints have flooded in regarding passenger safety on the Metrorail service. 

A report by the ombudsman concluded that SAPS, as well as the Passenger Rail Association of South Africa (Prasa) have done little to make good on assurances that they would improve safety on the service. 

MOU on fixing Metrorail safety issues largely ignored

The report follows a request by Western Cape’s Minister for Community Safety, Albert Fritz, who asked for the matter to be interrogated so that oversight authorities could determine the reason for SAPS only being able to arrest a handful of juvenile suspects for the crimes, which have cost the province upwards of R600 million in damages to infrastructure. 

Furthermore, 88.9% of respondents said that they either sometimes or never see police on Metrorail trains or at stations, and 70.9% of respondents felt unsafe on-board Metrorail trains.

The complaint was found by the WCPO to be substantiatedand that the National Commissioner of the SAPS and the Group Chief Executive Officer of Prasa “must have realised some of the inefficiencies when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 5th of February 2019”.  

“Although it was only signed after thirty-nine train burning incidents, which resulted in the loss of two lives and with an estimated financial loss of nearly R600 million,” they said. 

“The current uncertainty concerning security contracts with PRASA, however threatens to defeat the purpose of the MOU.” 

Fritz calls on SAPS to take responsibility for train arson

No link has yet been attached to any adults or organised groups, and no motive for the burning of the trains has been established.

Fritz said that the findings were welcome, as they highlighted the failings of the various stakeholders involved in the issue.

“This investigation was requested following a spate of arson attacks on railway infrastructure and SAPS’ inability to apprehend those responsible. During the height of these attacks, commuters experienced a great sense of feeling unsafe and experienced serious delays and cancellations of trains, leaving them stranded.”

“The investigation was conducted by calling on the public to submit their comments. Copies of the relevant case dockets were requested from SAPS, analysed and findings were made.”

He added that at the end of the day, the responsibility to keep the province’s residents safe on their daily commute lands with SAPS.

“Interviews were conducted with SAPS officials and other stakeholders. Comments were requested from numerous Departments and from the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral office. I commend the WCPO on progress made in his investigation.”

“No conviction has been recorded yet for the burning of the train sets in the Western Cape. While SAPS is just one of many role-players in the Criminal Justice Cluster that must ensure convictions, it is still SAPS’ responsibility to present a properly investigated case (including evidence) to a Court of Law that will enable the Court to come to a verdict of a conviction.”

WCPO recommendations

The WCOP suggested that Western Cape SAPS implement better strategies to deal with the scourge of violence on trains, produce comprehensive report on progress. 

They recommended the following: 

• The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in the Western Cape should implement appropriate steps to address the inefficiencies highlighted in the report; and
• The investigative report should be forwarded to the Standing Committee on Community Safety, Cultural Affairs and Sport of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, to monitor whether the inefficiencies identified are indeed addressed by SAPS in the Western Cape.

Metrorail services are set to resume on 1 July after being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.