Joint actions pay off

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 17 joint operations with PRASA Protection Services and SAPS Claremont & Parow. They also made eight arrests. Read more below:

In addition to the arrests, the Unit inspected 26 hotspots and scrapyards. They also issued fines to the value of R24 000.

‘Week after week the rail safety enforcement unit shows the value that they are adding in helping to keep our commuters safe. The City is committed to our residents’ personal safety and security, and the REU shows how working together, through a collaborative effort can contribute towards increasing safety and improve conditions so that our commuters can travel on trains that are and feel safe,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.

‘The results achieved by the Rail Enforcement Unit (REU), on a daily basis, are reassuring and show that crime in the rail network can indeed be curbed. The number of arrests made and stolen property recovered is testament to how effective the collaboration between the REU and other enforcement agencies has been. Commuters can be assured that inroads are being made in the area of railway crime,’ said Minister of Transport and Public Works and Chairperson of the RMTT, Donald Grant.

‘It is encouraging to see the concept of a specialised unit working in conjunction with other law enforcement entities is successful  – the co-operation results in regular arrests and commuters benefit by the Unit’s presence on trains and stations,’ 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.

Rewards of up to R25 000 are payable for information leading to successful conviction