Metrorail: We apologize for the inconvenience

“Trains in the Region are delayed in an excess of 240 minutes”, the sms that Saturday morning that made the warning signs go off.

Metrorail was given a heavy blow, just hours after #BlackFriday. Not even three consecutive arson incidents in April could stop the service. But cable theft, at a juncture where all signal cables converge, brought the train service to a standstill.

At our first meeting, the current Metrorail Western Cape regional manager, Richard Walker said he would try his best to never stop trains from moving – even if that means driving a train himself. And then came Metrorail’s darkest hour in more than five years.

Technicians tried their best to restore the service and by the Wednesday afternoon Richard (yes we on a first name basis) informed me all lines are now open, but things will still be hectic.

The next morning criminals again targeted Salt River and to complicate things even more four carriages were destroyed in an arson attack just outside Thornton station.

There are more than 120 train stations in the province, of who just under a 100 have ticket offices. Metrorail needs more than 90 train sets to have a normal service, for the four lines that stretch over 489km tracks. With all the arson incidents the past 15 months, there was a time the province had less than 70 train sets.

Apart from not having the security compliment to have a guard of honour next to the tracks, there is just not enough manpower for all the stations and points.

And then there is the issue of no funds, because Prasa – the motherbody of Metrorail – is in tatters from mismanagement and financial irregularities. Our hope and prayers are now on acting group chief, Collins Letsoalo, to get all sets on the tracks.

The arson and cable theft are forcing me to dare say there is a well-organised syndicate out to destroy Metrorail – especially in the Western Cape.

Securities are deployed to hot-spot areas, but families of the men and women are victimized and their lives threatened. Many of the unarmed guards step back when the thieves target the areas. Because is a life not more important than cables?

They don’t speak out, out of fear for the lives of their loved-ones. Many of the guards are also not trained to use a firearm. And if we go and give every Hendrik, Ivor and Thabo a gun, we might sit with the same problem as the Americans.

Then there is the sad fact that rail crime is not viewed as serious enough by our justice system. Because how many criminals caught, or against whom there are enough evidence are successfully prosecuted.

The past decades very little to no upgrading was done to our rail system – apart from fixing problems. For decades our rail infrastructure was neglected. In 2009 the need was identified and Prasa launched Project Modernisation. This 20 to 30 year project not only includes new trains but also upgrading of infrastructure. We have to wonder though what a setback every cable theft, arson and vandalism incident has.

Very notable with all the incidents, is the silence from the government benches. Both President Jacob Zuma and transport minister Dipuo Peters condemned the April arson incidents. Commuters however need more than a sentence from their leaders. Commuters, like trains and the infrastructure that are destroyed are government assets. Now why can our defence force – who protects rhinos – not be deployed to protect our trains and stations against the hooligans who are destroying the assets of our future?

Metrorail, or the railway service, is the backbone of the Western Cape economy and there is a light though for commuters.

The service in the province is much better than in other. The Western Cape might be the only not to make a profit, but in the province there are no rail derailments with casualties and train incidents are fewer, as well as crime activity. Delays and cancellations are also lower and we have the best and most proactive communication.

Our defence force might however be a temporary solution. If we want to address Metrorail’s problem, we will have to start addressing crime, social challenges and unemployment. If we don’t do this and continue to play the blame game, commuters and Metrorail will continue to be the biggest loser and hooligan criminals laughing all the way to the bank.

• This is the English version of a Post Scriptum that appeared in Paarl Post of Thursday 8 December 2016.