Fifty-four trains were cancelled on the Gautrain’s Hatfield – Centurion service on Wednesday owing to overnight copper cable theft in Tshwane.

Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) spokesperson Dr Barbara Jensen said it took until 13:00 to resume operations on this section of the 80 km line.

The GMA is an agency of the Gauteng government.

She noted that Gautrain operator, the Bombela Concession Company (BCC), tried to mitigate the inconvenience caused to commuters by offering Gautrain users a bus service between Hatfield and Centurion stations.

Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi said on Wednesday that he did not only “see this criminal act as interference of the normal functioning of public transport, but as an act of economic sabotage" which he condemned in the "strongest terms".

He also called on law enforcement agencies not to see cable theft as a petty crime, urging them to “leave no stone unturned” in apprehending the people responsible for the theft.

Vadi also tasked the BCC “to take proactive steps to prevent any further theft of cables which could disrupt the Gautrain service”.

The cable theft followed a Gautrain bus driver strike on Monday.

Despite this somewhat rocky start the Gautrain service between Tshwane and Johannesburg had been recording passengers numbers “beyond expectations”, noted Jensen.

During the first week of operations of the Tshwane – Johannesburg link, the number of passengers on the Gautrain has increased from 19 248 on August 2, to 41 883 on August 9 – which was also a public holiday.

“Gautrain is grateful to the people of Gauteng for their support of this essential mode of public transport,” said Jensen.