/ 25 July 2005

Western Cape to get 400 railway constables

From Tuesday, train commuters in the Western Cape can breathe a little easier — it will be the first day on the job for 400 railway police constables whose duty it will be to reduce crime on trains.

”We are saying that we are serious about rooting out crime committed on trains,” said Western Cape provincial commissioner, Mzwandile Petros, at the graduation parade on Monday.

Petros said the student constables will take up their posts on railway lines throughout the peninsula, and would have a ”strong impact” on reducing crime on trains in Cape Town.

”This will not only benefit those who travel to and from work, but also those citizens who make use of this form of transport on a regular basis, casual users of trains and tourists who are visiting our country,” said Petros.

The pilot programme is a partnership between the South African Police Service, the Department of Community Safety and Metrorail. – Sapa