Tshwane train crash: DA calls for urgent investigation

Issued by John Moodey – DA Team One Gauteng Spokesperson on Public Transport
08 Jan 2019 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for an urgent investigation on the cause of the fatal train crash near Mountain View Station in Tshwane.

At least four people have been killed, while scores of people have been injured.

The DA has been continuously calling for more stringent rail safety measures to be put in place as the lives of our commuters cannot be put at risk on a daily basis.

There have been a series of train accidents in the province.

Just last year a collision between two trains left around 100 people injured at Eloff Extension in Selby and another train accident in Kempton Park left 300 people injured.

This is yet another indication of how the failing ANC is not taking the safety of our commuters seriously.

The DA calls on the MEC for Transport Ismail Vadi to liaise with the National Minister of Transport, Blade Nzimande to ask the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to launch an investigation into the cause of the train accident and to urgently address the safety concerns of commuters.

We also call on the Rail Safety Regulator to investigate rail safety in the province in order to ensure that all the necessary safety measures are put in place to prevent future accidents.

The DA extends its condolences to the families who have lost love ones in this accident and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured passengers.

Government has an obligation to ensure that passengers who make use of trains are kept safe at all times.