Fedusa slams authorities over train murders

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) is calling for urgent action to stop murders and criminality on trains and for the return of railway police.

Fedusa said decisive action was especially needed in the Cape Town area, where most of the violent attacks against train commuters have taken place.

Fedusa general secretary Dennis George said: “Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato has confirmed a total of 32 commuters have been murdered over the past two years and 66 people have been seriously injured. Twelve suspects have been arrested for these murders yet only one of them has been convicted.”

He called on the Western Cape provincial government to stop the rampant crime on trains.

Fedusa president Godfrey Selematsela added: “We call on Prasa [Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa] to reintroduce the Railway Police to monitor trains and protect commuters, including our members who work for the institution.”

George said it was outrageous that senior government officials, including President Jacob Zuma and cabinet ministers, had armed body guards protecting them.

“It’s traumatic and very sad for affected families to lose their loved ones in such tragic ways. One death is one too many. This wouldn’t be happening to anyone if the authorities and Prasa had listened to our members.”

“It is an unacceptable state of affairs. By now there should be security cameras on all trains and platforms, all broken perimeters should have been mended and the doors in commuter coaches should all be in working condition and easily secured,” George said. – ANA