Three trains were set alight in Pretoria by angry commuters, police said on Friday.
Captain Prince Mokhabela said the first train was burnt in Pretoria North at 6pm.
”There was a power failure and commuters got angry as trains were not moving. People also burned trains at Walmerton and Winterveld,” he said.
No one was injured and no arrests were made.
Police are investigating cases of malicious damage to property.
In December, commuters also set fire to two trains in Pretoria after severe storms disrupted rail services. Train services in the city were brought to a standstill after the signalling system broke down and a back-up system was struck by lightning, rail operator Metrorail said at the time.
Commuters became impatient with the delays, setting fire to two trains as the rail operator tried to organise buses to ferry passengers to their destinations.
Four train coaches were torched and damage amounting to millions of rand was caused to an overhead electricity cable.
In the meantime, while South Africa is in the midst of its worst electricity crisis, Public Enterprises minister Alec Erwin is away on holiday, the Saturday Star reported.
Erwin, who has been holidaying at an undisclosed location since January 8, is expected back in the office on Monday. His official spokesperson refused to say where he was holidaying, but denied rumours that he was in the Bahamas, the newspaper reported.
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has been acting for him in his absence. — Sapa