The Voice of the Cape Burning Issue

Cape Town’s rail system is being plunged into crisis....why?

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Cape Town’s rail system has been in disarray for a while, but things have reached a crisis point recently, following a series of arson attacks on train carriages. A fire on 21 July at Cape Town station destroyed seven rail coaches and exactly a week later, more trains were set alight. Another fire, on 26 July at Retreat destroyed five carriages and then last Tuesday, a seat was set alight in a train in Cape Town station and one suspect was arrested. In May‚ a commuter died in a train fire near Ottery station and another woman suffered severe burn wounds. The fires have caused long delays for commuters using an already strained train service.
The situation has become unbearable…and the question is why this is happening?
Our guests tonight:
Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille
Mayco member for transport in the City of Cape Town, Brett Heron
James Stent from activist group, Unite Behind
Steve Harris, General Secretary of United National Transport Union (Untu)
And Metrorail’s regional manager Richard Walker
10 Aug 2018 English South Africa News

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