Transport and Public Works
- With regard to Prasa and Metrorail in the Western Cape, (a) how many cases of vandalism and theft of rail infrastructure were recorded in the (i) 2017/18, (ii) 2018/19 and (iii) 2019/20 financial years, (b) what is the total rand value of the vandalism and theft per financial year, how many (c) charges and (d) convictions took place per financial year;
- whether there has been significant vandalism and theft during the COVID-19 lockdown period; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether the vandalism and theft of Prasa and Metrorail railway infrastructure has been prioritised by the national government as a serious crime; if not, what measures has he undertaken to prioritise railway vandalism and theft in the province;
- whether the province will receive security support from personnel currently being recruited; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether an audit or survey has been done to ascertain the implications for restoring rail services after the COVID-19 lockdown; if so, what are the implications from a cost and operational perspective?
PRASA is responsible for the delivery of rail services through its Metrorail division. The Department of Transport and Public Works does not have access to this detailed information. In addition, PRASA is currently operationally challenged and sourcing this information is difficult. A formal request has been submitted to PRASA requesting this information.
- (a) The information available in response to (a) is the (approximate) number
of crimes involving PRASA rail assets from 2014/15 to 2017/18. For the Western Cape Region these are as follows:
- FY14/15: ±1,250
- FY15/16: ±750
- FY16/17: ±1,100
- FY17/18: ±1,600
The Department does not have access to the information requested for (b), (c) and (d).
- Anecdotally, we have received reports that vandalism and theft did continue during the lockdown period. However, we do not have access to more detailed information at this stage.
PRASA is responsible for the delivery of rail services through its Metrorail division. The Department of Transport and Public Works does not have access to this detailed information. In addition, PRASA is currently operationally challenged and sourcing this information is difficult. A formal request has been submitted to PRASA requesting this information.
- The Criminal Matters Amendment Act (2015) ensured that vandalism and theft of rail infrastructure could be treated as a serious criminal offence, with those convicted subject to a period of imprisonment not exceeding 30 years or, in the case of a corporate body, a fine not exceeding R100 million. The Act also includes minimum sentences.
PRASA and SAPS are responsible for security and law enforcement on the rail network. However, the Department did work with the City of Cape Town and PRASA to establish the Rail Enforcement Unit (REU), which has operated since 2018. This 100-person unit was designed to supplement existing security and law enforcement capacity and in the 2019/20 financial year achieved the following (sourced from a joint press release issued by the City of Cape Town):
The Unit conducted 424 arrests, it also stopped and searched more than 37,000 people, conducted more than 4,000 patrols in hot spots, recovered more than 2,000 metres of stolen copper and aluminium cables. Apart from the arrests, which included charges of assault, armed robbery, possession of drugs and stolen property, theft and malicious damage to property, the unit registered 269 cases of which 109 were in terms of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act, and 467 operations were conducted within the rail environment.
In addition to the above, the Department continues to work with PRASA and other stakeholders to address rail security and service issues. Given that rail is not the mandate of the Province, the Department can only play a supporting role and is dependent on the cooperation of PRASA. Engagements on this matter are ongoing and the Department remains ready to support where it can.
- The Department recruits according to need and the availability of budget. Currently, the focus is on the recruitment of additional provincial traffic officers to strengthen our traffic law enforcement capacity and improve road safety.
The Department is not currently recruiting personnel to perform security or law enforcement functions on the rail network, given that this function falls outside its mandate. However, this may be considered in the future subject to further collaboration with PRASA.
- PRASA is responsible for the delivery of rail services through its Metrorail division. The Department of Transport and Public Works does not have access to this detailed information and is not able to conduct an audit or survey of rail assets without the permission of PRASA. In addition, PRASA is currently operationally challenged and sourcing this information is difficult. A formal request has been submitted to PRASA requesting this information.
The Department continues to engage PRASA to discuss how the two parties can best work together to restore rail services.
