Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Rubber bullets fly at city’s station
‘Illegal strikers’ blamed for commuter violence
PANDEMONIUM erupted in the city yesterday with police firing rubber bullets at violent commuters at Cape Town Station, three train carriages set alight in Woodstock and thousands of commuters left waiting for up to 10 hours for transport home.
Traffic was jammed and MyCiTi buses were delayed in the chaos which began yesterday morning after several events including a rail death between Wynberg and Wittebome stations, defective signals at Netreg station, the loss of points detection at Wynberg and an electrical malfunction on a train between Bonteheuwel and Netreg stations.
There was more bad news for commuters late last night, with Metrorail Western Cape spokeswoman Riana Scott predicting trains may not be fully operational by Monday.
They were, however, working to avert more problems after the weekend.
After the shootings at Cape Town Station at about 5.30pm, tension spilt over about 30 minutes later at the Esplanade station in Woodstock, where two carriages were set alight.
Scott confirmed the incident but said details were limited at publication time. Other reports were, however, that technicians were switching off power so they could douse the flames.
Branding the situation “a siege”, Scott said a further four carriages were destroyed by fire at Kraaifontein staging yard shortly after midnight on Thursday.
This had caused problems on the Kraaifontein to Muldersvlei route. “( Yesterday) morning’s incident of deliberate destruction follows last Saturday’s fire, where two adjoining trains were set alight on platforms 11 and 12 at Cape Town Station,” said Scott.
Metrorail regional manager Richard Walker blamed the latest crisis on “open warfare” between illegal strikers and staff continuing to work.
The strikers intimidated staff and circulated propaganda to garner support for their illegal action, he said.
Reports yesterday were that the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union carried out the industrial action affecting the signals.
Walker warned: “We will dismiss any employee who contravenes company policy or a court order. It is time to rid the region of criminals who masquerade as employees.”
Last night 90 percent of trains leaving Cape Town station were delayed.
A commuter from Belhar, who did not want to be named, spoke of the theft and intimidation he witnessed: “On platform 20, a group of guys were burning cardboard and turned violent and attacked a police officer after he tried to stop them. I also witnessed someone’s cellphone being nabbed after taking pictures.”
Commuters could be seen standing in winding queues hoping to get on to buses and taxis out of town.
City Traffic spokeswoman Maxine Jordaan said traffic was not horribly congested, although other reports were that the station precinct was chaotic as commuters waited for lifts from friends and relatives.
Provincial police spokesman Colonel Andre Traut said police and law enforcement officials were keeping a close eye on the situation in an effort to calm tensions.
Another visibly stressed commuter, Jennifer Ackerman, paced the crowded station for hours waiting for a train to Wynberg. She slammed Metrorail for not effectively communicating with commuters.
“I have no idea how long I am going to sit here for. The trains also need more security as thieves prey on commuters on a daily basis. When you tell the bad elements to close the train doors while it’s in motion, they look at you as if they want to kill you,” she said.
Student Martin Meshack had been waiting from 7am yesterday morning until 5pm for a train.
“I have to get to CPUT in Bellville to submit my assignments and I don’t have money to use other forms of transport. I even waited at Cape Town Library and came back, but the situation had not changed,” he said.
Claud Mentor said he relied on the trains to get to work in the city centre.
“There are always delays and the train usually reaches a standstill at Wellington station.
“A month ago, the bottom of the train was set alight and we had to jump off. I got on to the train at 5pm (that day) and only arrived home at midnight, after waiting for alternative transport.”
Zingiswa Mbokwano said yesterday she was unable to get home after finishing her nightshift at 7am yesterday morning.
“I pay R190 for a monthly ticket and I have just been sitting here the whole day hoping the train service will go back to nor- mal. I don’t have money to take other forms of public transport,” the woman said.
Scott said the deliberate escalation in vandalism over the past months was not a coincidence.
“The Western Cape region has a fleet of 89 train-sets to operate 698 trains every week day, 360 trains on Saturdays and 225 trains on Sundays.
“The loss of 32 carriages destroyed in six separate incidents since October last year holds a serious risk of overcrowding,” she said.
mika.williams@inl.co.za