About 145 Durban train drivers are expected to go on strike on Thursday afternoon over new rosters, a day after at least 28 coaches were burnt in Gauteng by commuters angered by delays.
At the same time, the drivers’ union, the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu), will meet Metrorail CEO Lauriette Modipane to discuss the safety of its drivers in the wave of train torchings.
Utatu secretary general Chris de Vos said that the strike is because drivers are being forced to drive for longer than the five hours stipulated in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, which drivers feel is dangerous.
”The strike could affect all the trains [in Durban],” he said, adding that it could go on indefinitely.
At Thursday’s meeting, the union is expected to raise the drivers’ increasing concerns about their safety at the hands of angry commuters.
De Vos said that when trains were being burnt in the south of Johannesburg over a technical delay, drivers were threatened by commuters.
”It is unacceptable. This is getting dangerous now. Our people are scared, really.
”People told the drivers last night [Wednesday night] that they would throw them into the fire.”
De Vos said drivers did not cause the delays.
”It is not human error — most of it is cable theft and they are working with some rolling stock over 30 years old.”
South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) chairperson James Ngobeni urged commuters to help protect the trains.
He said that Wednesday night’s torchings had cost R40,1-million — not the R200-million reported earlier.
”If you burn and set the trains alight, where are we going to get a substitute? We don’t have them,” he said.
The SARCC is responsible for the rolling stock and infrastructure of Metrorail.
Union sympathises with commuters
The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union joined the widespread condemnation of the torchings, calling it ”wanton violence”, but said it also sympathises with commuters.
”Our trains are getting more and more unreliable. For most of our citizens, the train is the only realistic means of going to and from work. Now, if this service is hampered by delays, inefficiency and incompetence, how do we hope to contain the anger of the worker who has strict timelines to satisfy and feels that the train is threatening his job security?”
The National Democratic Convention agreed, saying: ”We don’t encourage violence. What is important is to sit down and study the problem.”
John Dludlu, spokesperson for Transnet, which owns Metrorail, said: ”We regret the effect of the delay on commuters and are quite aware that some people are losing their jobs. We fail to see how this [burning a train] can help.
”We think it is totally unacceptable and would like to urge the public to cooperate … by condemning these acts as well and to cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies to find these people.”
Company executives were meeting on Thursday to address the situation and were working with police and other law-enforcement agencies.
Metrorail Wits regional manager Salani Sithole said the company would work round the clock to repair overhead cables, signals and communication lines.
”During this time of repairs, Metro rail calls upon its loyal commuters to cooperate with us and use alternate means of public transport,” he said.
The company would assist by operating a shuttle service between Suurbekom and Oberholzer; from where a normal train service would be operational via Randfontein.
After Midway station, the line splits to head for either Vereeniging or Westonaria.
No more trains
The latest wave of train torchings has left the company with no more trains to run between Gauteng’s Midway and Vereeniging stations, spokesperson Thandi Mlangeni said on Thursday.
”We are shocked, and condemn it in the strongest possible terms. We understand that to be angry is anybody’s right, but it is irresponsible to burn trains and to burn public assets.”
Security was present at stations around Gauteng and, said Mlangeni, the South African Police Service and metro police had been very supportive.
On Tuesday, four carriages were also burnt out at Residensia station in Vereeniging by people frustrated by delays, this time caused by cable theft.
Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin also condemned the attacks.
”The minister has described these incidents as totally unacceptable and warned that such behaviour will not be tolerated,” his spokesperson Gaynor Kast said.
Commuters who witnessed the acts were urged to come forward and assist police with their investigations.
The statement said Erwin had reiterated the Cabinet’s commitment to ensuring an efficient transport system as well as the safety of all passengers. — Sapa