Train of thought

Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) investigators have seven theories on why Cape Town’s trains have been torched. The first — strife between management and unions — is reported on in today’s Sunday Times investigation. The others are: ● Service providers such as security contractors either not being paid or not paying their staff;

● Commuter frustration;

● Infighting between managers;

● Disgruntlement among employees not in unions;

● Sabotage by the taxi industry; and

● Political instability in the Western Cape.

In 2018, Prasa lost a Constitutional Court appeal against a ruling that said more than 700 workers who were fired after a violent strike must be reinstated.

The employees were fired because Prasa said it believed they were responsible for eight train fires in January 2013.

They are owed up to R2bn in back pay, but Prasa is unlikely to find the money through train fares.

In his latest report on the agency, issued on March 31 last year, auditor-general Kimi Makwetu said he “was unable to confirm or verify … fare revenue of R1.2bn included in the statements of comprehensive income” because the ticket sales system had not been fully operational for months.

Hyman