Province and City Condemn Latest Metrorail Cable Theft Incident

Statement by Mr Donald Grant and Cllr Brett Herron
Minister of Transport and Public Works and Mayco Member for Transport for Cape Town

Early this morning, the Metrorail system suffered what is believed to be a repeat attack, targeting a multi-core communications cable. This most recent attack closely resembled an October 2014 attack where four meters of multi-core communication cable were also stolen at around 3am in the morning. This attack has again had a tremendous effect on service, and resulted in delays in excess of an hour.

We appeal to those with information to come forward immediately and assist the South African Police Services (SAPS) in their investigation that must lead to the arrest, successful prosecution, and conviction of those responsible for these criminal acts.

Metrorail has offered a reward of up to R25 000 for any information leading to a successful conviction.

Thousands of commuters in the Cape Town Metro rely on public transport daily to get to and from their various destinations. We cannot continue to be held ransom by the actions of a few criminals who have a brazen disregard for the law and the needs of others.

These criminal acts perpetrated by elements seeking to destabilise Metrorail must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, and must be met with severe consequences so as to deter them and other would-be criminals. To this end, we would support moves aimed at imposing harsher penalties on criminals who steal cables and threaten and pose a threat to the Metrorail system.

We commend Metrorail for responding so quickly to these latest attacks, and working round-the-clock to ensure that normal service is restored.

Criminal acts will not deter us from our mandate of providing safe and reliable public transport to the people of this province.