The sustained theft and vandalism of PRASA’s rail assets has disrupted train services across all provinces that PRASA operates. Notwithstanding the cancelation of security contracts, the situation was further exacerbated by the travel bans imposed during the level 5 hard lockdown which left our infrastructure vulnerable.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa welcomes the sentencing of its former employee who had been found guilty of Tampering/ Destroying of Essential infrastructure in the Mkhomazi area in April 2018 by the Scottburgh Regional Court.
Since the declaration of the state of disaster and the restriction on travel, PRASA had to cease all commuter rail operations. Considering that PRASA operates an open network that is not adequately fenced in, the lines were exposed and became victim to wholesale theft and vandalism.