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On Tuesday, Cyril Ramaphosa said the NCOP government was taking decisive steps to improve rail safety as part of its reconstruction and economic recovery plan.
Officials assess the damage from a train fire at Glencairn station on October 7, 2019. Image: 1-second alerts
CAPE TOWN – President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday that the continued sabotage, theft and vandalism of South Africa’s rail infrastructure is the worst form of economic crime in the country.
He said it had a direct impact on the lives of millions of South Africans who depend on the commuter train to go to work or study; and it also undermined economic growth and puts greater pressure on economic resources.
Responding to questions during a session of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) yesterday, Ramaphosa told the House that the government was taking decisive steps to improve rail safety as part of its reconstruction and economic recovery plan.
Ramaphosa said the immediate deployment of security guards, plans for drones and other high-tech surveillance and armed response units were part of the plan to stop the destruction of South Africa’s suburban rail network.
“The National Treasury has granted R900m approval for the implementation of the Prasa security plan to combat theft and vandalism of the railway infrastructure.
“Part of the plan is to immediately appoint security personnel to deploy remotely piloted aircraft systems to conduct virtual patrols of high-risk infrastructure.
“This capability will work in conjunction with specialized investigations and armed response.”
Ramaphosa said work on this has already begun, but also called on South Africans to stand up to such crimes and take part in efforts to build a safe, reliable and affordable public transport system.
“As we improve the measures in the rail network, the most effective defense is the surveillance of the rail users and the active participation to protect this national resource.”
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