Metrorail says a total of 26 arrests and successful convictions were made between August 19 and September 2 in the Western Cape alone. According to Metrorail, the suspects were arrested for various crimes ranging from robbery, malicious damage to property, drug trafficking and breaking and entering.
Metrorail spokesperson Nana Zenani said in a statement on Tuesday, September 7 that further arrests were also made by the Western Cape Security patrol teams in the Bellville/Parow area, Peter Barlow and Bellville and Oostersee hotspots over the past 72 hours.
“The patrol teams responded to a massive fire at the back of Regional Train Control Center and a nearby substation in Belville. On arrival, the team noticed three suspects sitting near a fire with copper cables burning on the flames. The patrol team further investigated the area and discovered more signal cables that were abandoned at the scene. One suspect managed to escape while two others were apprehended and handed over to SAPS,” Zenani said.
Zenani went on to say that another patrol team at the Peter Barlow hotspot was conducting a routine patrol along the railway line at the Glenhaven when the local Neighborhood Watch (NW) reported that they saw suspects cutting the cable on the railway line.
“The security team conducted a search of the area and apprehended two suspects hiding in the bushes with approximately 25 meters of stolen cables. The suspects also pointed out more stolen cables cut from a nearby mass pole. The suspects were arrested under the Criminal matters Amendment Act 2008 and were taken to the Bellville South Police Station,” Zenani indicated.
Meanwhile, the railway security team will host a series of informative workshops with various NW organisations and Community Forums of Kuilsriver to help educate these community organisations regarding The Criminal Procedures Act, Criminal Matters Amendment Act and Crime Preventive Strategies. The workshops will also be extended to areas within the Western Cape that are situated near Metrorail operational lines.
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