Passenger dies in train horror attack
Eight hurt as gang of vicious robbers turns on commuters
A RIDE on train 3427 travelling from Stellenbosch to Eerste River turned into a nightmare when a gang of robbers attacked commuters near Lynedoch station, leaving one person dead and eight injured.
The incident has heightened calls for security on trains to be beefed up as the onslaught against the passenger rail system continues.
A 32-year-old man died during the attack and eight others were injured after being thrown from the moving train at about 10pm on Friday.
Metrorail spokesperson Zino Mihi said that 10 men allegedly robbed nine male passengers, all presumably Mozambican nationals, at gunpoint.
One of the victims, a 32-year-old man, was stabbed in the head and thrown from the moving train. He died at a garage close to Lynedoch station. The rest of the men, robbed of their personal belongings, sustained injuries and were admitted to various hospitals in the surrounding area.
Reacting to this tragic incident, Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) board chairperson Khanyisile Kweyama said that the attack was “indicative of a wounded nation”.
“Prasa is still trying to understand what has been a sustained attack and the vandalism of infrastructure in the Western Cape. This sudden shift to attacking innocent citizens, who are soft targets, is unbearable and is condemned in the strongest terms,” said Kweyama.
City mayco member for Transport and Urban Development Brett Herron said the rail system was in jeopardy as Prasa failed to pay to protect rail commuters in Cape Town.
“I am shocked beyond words by the horrific details of this latest attack. Cape Town’s rail commuters, who are among the most vulnerable in our society, are facing an onslaught of violence on a daily basis,” said Herron.
“This latest incident has prompted me to publicly express my exasperation with the fact that, to date, Prasa has failed to pay its part of the funding that is needed for the special Rail Enforcement Unit that the City is currently training.”
Quintus van Wyk, Renier van der Westhuizen and his girlfriend, Izette van der Merwe, were at Zetlers petrol station near Lynedoch station when they noticed a man stumbling up to their car window. Van der Westhuizen said the man, dripping with blood, then collapsed.
“Izette and Quintus are medically trained and proceeded to administer
trauma care and stabilised the man, while I contacted the police and kept the gathering onlookers at bay,” said Van der Westhuizen.
He said the man had been stabbed in the head with a knife, which broke off in his skull.
“This makes me absolutely sick of the country that we live in, that men can attack, assault and murder hard-working men returning back from work using public-transport,” said Van der Westhuizen.
Siphesihle Dube, the spokesperson for Transport, and Public Works MEC Donald Grant, said the Western Cape government had partnered with the City of Cape Town and Prasa on various initiatives aimed at improving safety over the past few years.
“We hope that these initiatives will result in improved safety conditions for the thousands of commuters that rely on the service on a daily basis,” said Dube.
Metrorail regional manager Richard Walker said the incident was unfortunate and distressing.
“Metrorail, together with the SAPS, will work to get to the bottom of this recurring trend of robberies and other related crimes,” said Walker.
He said public transport in general had experienced an increase of robberies on board various modes of transport such as buses and taxis. Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut said cases of murder and attempted murder were registered. No one has been arrested as yet.
Anyone with information can contact Detective-Sergeant Melani of Stellenbosch police on 021 809 9140; their nearest police station; Crime Stop at 08600 1011 or SMS Crimline 32211.