Angry protesters caused damage of R5-million to Daveyton Station on the East Rand on Friday morning, Metrorail said.
”Commuters torched ticket offices when a train failed between Northmead and Avenue, blocking other Johannesburg-bound trains from Daveyton,” spokesperson Sibusiso Ngomane said.
Technical staff dispatched to the scene to repair the faults and clear the line were pelted with stones and had to flee.
Computers, money and tickets were destroyed in the office fire.
Protesters also damaged vehicles belonging to Metrorail employees and set fire to the motor coach of a train at the station, Ngomane said.
”The fire brigade, police and the Metrorail protection service arrived at the scene … the fire was quickly extinguished and only the rear driver’s cab of the torched train was damaged.”
Protesters have since dispersed. Earlier, negotiations between protesters and Metrorail resolved that Metrorail issue letters to the employers of the commuters.
Six people were arrested and protesters were negotiating with police to release them.
”These people have damaged property and were being violent. I don’t know if we will release them,” police spokesperson Inspector Nakedi Rapholo said.
Train services through Daveyton were suspended until further notice.
”The disturbing trend of violent commuter backlash in the form of train-torching has a negative effect on train service availability,” Ngomane said. — Sapa