Senseless arson

WHO could be behind the ongoing wave of arson attacks on commuter trains, and what could possibly be the motive? This senseless phenomenon is cause for concern – not only does it seriously inconvenience train commuters, but it is a serious financial dent on the already overburdened Metrorail system.

The faceless arsonists strike with meticulous precision and skill, if such acts may be so described. They strike when least expected, with evidence of their handiwork only being noticed when carriages go up in smoke. Such attacks further damage the country’s image as a tourist destination.

In the City of Cape Town 140 coaches have been damaged by arsonists in the last three years – that’s almost one coach a week.

Durban and Pretoria have also seen their fair share of arson attacks in recent years, which resulted in the train service being suspended on some routes.

But it is the Cape Town area which is the biggest cause for concern. On Saturday, two carriages were set alight, bringing to three the number of such attacks in the last 10 days.

On July 21, about R30 million worth of damage was caused when a fire destroyed a train at Cape Town station. Transport Minister Blade Nzimande has launched a task team to probe what is behind the recent train attacks. It would be interesting to find out who stands to benefit most from attacking an already dysfunctional commuter service plagued by constant delays, crime and vandalism.

We support the minister’s call for the possible reintroduction of railway police.

Trains are the backbone of public transport in many parts of the country and the main means of getting to work for thousands of people from disadvantaged communities. Workers using this mode of transport contribute to the local economy. If they are inconvenienced, the knock-on effect is enormous. This is why attacks on trains can be regarded as economic sabotage.