Over 154 hotspots and scrapyards inspected | Western Cape Government

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Over 154 hotspots and scrapyards inspected

3 March 2019

Weekly statement on Rail Enforcement Unit – a joint media release from Metrorail, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government

The Rail Enforcement Unit (REU) this past week collaborated in six joint operations with the PRASA Protection Services and South African Police Service. They also made four arrests and conducted 1 075 stop-and-searches. Read more below:

The arrests took place in Bishop Lavis, Athlone, and Manenberg. Some of the suspects may be prosecuted in terms of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act which provides for stricter bail conditions and harsher sentences, including up to 30 years’ imprisonment, for those caught and convicted of destruction of essential infrastructure.

The Act has been in operation for about three years and is intended as a deterrent against attacks on essential infrastructure, among which the infrastructure needed to operate our passenger rail service.

The Passenger Rail Agency’s Protection Services and the South African Police Service’s Rapid Rail Response Unit made another 16 arrests over the past week. Twelve structures were dismantled and removed; and 26 vagrants were removed at Parow, Stikland and the Cape Town Station Deck.

MPS, RRPU & CONTRACT SECURITY ACTIONS Number Detail *REU ACTIONS Number Detail
Arrests 16 Tampering and/or damage to essential infrastructure; Theft and assault Arrests 4

Possession of stolen property; malicious damage to property; Criminal Matters Amendment Act

Trains worked 1 226   Joint operations 6  
Confiscations 21 3 spades, 1 hacksaw, 3 knives, 2 metres of three-core cabling, 2 metres of two-core electrical cable approximate value R10 000.00 Confiscations 40m Copper cable     
Searches 983 Paarl – Klapmuts, Cape Town

Impoundments:

Metal                   

 

Spades, knives, pliers, spanner, imitation firearm, hacksaw

LSA Schedule B (warnings/fines) 28   Fines – Traffic by-law, general 46  R44 900
Vagrants removed 26 Parow, Stikland, Cape Town Station Deck Inspections of hotspot areas and scrapyards 154  
Structures dismantled and removed 12 Parow, Stikland, Cape Town Station Deck Section 56 notices to appear in court 45  
Joint operations 2   Section 341 notices (fines) 0  
Campaigns (safety, level crossing) 0   Stop-and-search actions 1 075  
Court appearances & convictions 1 226 days awaiting trial - 5 year sentence for theft of goods to the value of R1000.00 Complaints attended to 13  
PRASA Protection Services is tasked to ensure Legal Succession Act compliance, crime prevention and commuter safety. * The Rail Enforcement Unit (REU) is a special security initiative funded by  PRASA, the City of Cape Town and  PGWC Department of Transport & Public Works) to focus on bylaw compliance, metal theft prevention and to support SAPS Railway Police in the protection of commuters. Its 100 law enforcement officers are trained as Peace Officers with traffic warden and street survival skills and firearm competency and also focus on bylaw compliance.  The Unit’s performance is reflected separately to monitor performance and assess feasibility.           

 

‘The unit is making good progress. It is early days yet, but already we are seeing good arrests for cable theft and other crimes, but also for fare evasion. I think, more importantly, trends are emerging around hot spots, which helps inform our deployment patterns and that’s a plus. The longer this unit remains in operation, the more intelligence they’re able to gather, which means even greater efficacy,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

‘We have been receiving positive feedback from members of the public who have spotted the REU in action over the last few months. The overwhelming sentiment has been positive, with citizens welcoming this joint initiative and deployment. As the number of operations and searches increases, so too will the number of arrests made of criminals in our rail network. We are making progress in clamping down on crime in the network, and placing criminals behind bars,’ said Minister of Transport and Public Works and Chairperson of the Rail Management Task Team, Donald Grant.

‘The good combined results of the respective law enforcement agencies tasked with rail safety announced last week bears testament to the power of collaboration. The recent arrest of an ex-employee proves no one is above the law. We will show no fear or favour – a crime is a crime and we will continue to crack down on offenders,’ said Metrorail Western Cape Regional Manager, Richard Walker.

The public can assist the REU by reporting crime and vandalism, as this forms part of the intelligence that drives deployment and operations.

Metrorail Protection Services hot-line 021 449 4336/5056
RRPU Cape Town (platform 1) 021 443 4325
RRPU Bellville 021 941 6800
RRPU Philippi/Stock Road 021 370 1011
RRPU Retreat

021 710 5129

RRPU Radio Control/OPS room 021 449 4309/10
SAPS Crime Stop 0860 10111
Crime line

SMS 32211

City of Cape Town Metals Theft Unit 0800 222 2771
Media Enquiries: 

Ald. JP Smith, City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security    
Tel: 083 675 3780     
Email: jean-pierre.smith@capetown.gov.za/ media.account@capetown.gov.za

Riana Scott, Spokesperson: Metrorail Western Cape
Tel: 021 4496181 or Cell: 083 284 3508
Email: RScott@metrorail.co.za.

Siphesihle Dube, Spokesperson for the Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 8954 or Cell: 084 233 3811
Email: Siphesihle.Dube@westerncape.gov.za.