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The United National Transport Union (UNTU) condemns the attack on the Crossmoor Station in KwaZulu-Natal and appeal to President Cyril Ramaphosa to listen to the Unions repeated pleas and deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to safeguard what is left of the passenger rail infrastructure.

The Crossmoor Station was set alight between 03:00 and 04:00 on 12 April 2021, just hours before the leadership of UNTU had its very first meeting with Zolani Matthews, newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

Matthews described Prasa as one of the strategic national assets of South Africa and appealed to UNTU to help and support the state-owned enterprises in its efforts to restore the service. According to Matthews security is Prasa’s top priority.

Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says unfortunately Prasa is the latest target in the ongoing violence in the Crossmoor Community that has been under siege according to media reports for more than a month.

The latest attack comes a month after Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced that Prasa appointed 9 080 community-based volunteers in the People’s Responsibility to Protect (PR2P) project who will work together with 1 500 police reservist and 80 military veterans in the 46 rail corridors nationwide.

“Prasa has done all that it can, but it will never be able to win the war alone unless all stakeholders in Government, including the SANDF and the South African Police Service (SAPS) play its part. The Rapid Rail Police Unit of the SAPS with is more than 3 200 police officers have the manpower but lacks resources to assist.

“Prasa beefed-up its protection services, but they are still working unarmed and hence is unable to defend themselves against highly armed organised crime syndicates,” says Harris.

UNTU appeals to anyone with information about rail related crime to report it to law authorities. 

Issued on behalf of UNTU