Another Cape Town train in flames

Dear Editor

The DA in the Western Cape once again notes the senseless torching of Metrorail Trains in Cape Town and condemn it in the strongest terms.

In my capacity as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, I will write to Metrorail to inquire whether they have a long term solution, that will ensure that their infrastructure is protected from vandals and what their plan is to ensuring that trains function optimally without delays.

After the last incident in Retreat station, this unacceptable behaviour makes it over 20 trains that have been torched in the past year alone, costing Metrorail millions. The constant vandalism of trains in the Western Cape has led to the cancellation of over 40 peak hour trains trips in Cape Town, and it will take nearly two years for the services to get back to normal. This is assuming that the mindless vandalism comes to an end.

We are pleading with the people of the Western Cape to stop vandalising trains as this only ensures that trains are delayed even more. We also urge the public to come out and report these acts of vandalism and ensure the culprits are arrested. The senseless burning of trains is a violation of others rights and cannot be allowed to continue any longer.

A great deal of commuters rely on Metrorail to get workers and learners to their destinations and we therefore cannot allows a few vandals to disrupt our daily commute

Regards

Adv. Lennit Max, MPP