African lives matter

THE Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) is concerned over the number of deadly train accidents.

We complained to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) when lives were lost in a collision between two trains at Denver, Johannesburg.

Nothing was done to improve rail services.

Lives are lost every day in train accidents. Hundreds of people die every year, but Prasa has failed to improve the situation.

We are saddened to hear of the collision in Tembisa, where one person was reported to have died and 400 injured. We wish to send our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. One life lost is too many.

Our best wishes for a speedy recovery also go to the injured.

A lack of maintenance and poor scheduling, and security remain a daily experience of commuters.

Moreover, the rail system is caught in a vicious circle of under-investment. This reflects a lack of strategic focus from the leadership of Prasa.

This poor leadership can also be seen in the poor and uncomfortable travelling conditions of our people.

The leadership of Prasa has no confidence in its own.

They use different modes of transport, such as the Gautrain, their own vehicles, taxis and buses, depending on their status in society.

Many of those who cannot afford to use the Gautrain will continue to lose their lives. They have no other options but to travel by train since they are paid peanuts at their places of employment.

African people are suffering exploitation from both government and private entities.

We we want African lives to be taken seriously. We are joining the popular chorus that #BlackLivesMatters. We are tired of corrupt leaders, who only care about their next fat meal while people at grass-roots level suffer. Kenneth Mokgatlhe PAC Spokesperson