R5 000 reward offered that leads to youths arrest for stoning a Cape train

The City of Cape Town is offering a R5 000 reward for information that leads to the positive identification and arrest of those responsible for the stoning of a brand new train set

Metrorail’s Nani Zenani said youths stoned the train at Steenberg Station on its way to Fish Hoek Station.  The incident occurred last Tuesday. The stone caused damage to the side window of the driver's cabin which will now have to be replaced. Repair costs are estimated to be around R20 000.

Metrorail has since opened a case of malicious damage to property

Metrorail is appealing to local parents, local leadership and local authorities to protect the people's asset.

‘’Metrorail is in the process of reinstating service across all its lines.  Extensive repair works have been done to various Metrorail assets due to vandalism.  The stoning of trains adds another layer of difficulty in delivering services and is therefore intolerable to Metrorail,’’ said Zenani.

Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis described the incident as ‘unacceptable’.

‘’Damage to critical infrastructure is completely unacceptable, even if it is perpetrated by youth who think that stoning trains is “fun”.For too long, a well-functioning rail service has been absent from our city and millions of Capetonians suffer as a result. Capetonians end up having to spend more of their income on other forms of public transport, and take longer to get to work and back home.’’

‘’We cannot allow a few individuals who wish to damage and steal public infrastructure to rob us all of the resources we need to improve our lives,’’ Hill-Lewis added.

Anyone with information on the incident can contact Metrorail on 0800 21 00 81

 

Done By: Mitchum George