Over 154 hotspots and scrapyards inspected
3 March 2019
The Rail Enforcement Unit (REU) this past week collaborated in six joint operations with the PRASA Protection Services and South African Police Service. They also made four arrests and conducted 1 075 stop-and-searches.
The arrests took place in Bishop Lavis, Athlone, and Manenberg. Some of the suspects may be prosecuted in terms of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act which provides for stricter bail conditions and harsher sentences, including up to 30 years’ imprisonment, for those caught and convicted of destruction of essential infrastructure.
The Act has been in operation for about three years and is intended as a deterrent against attacks on essential infrastructure, among which the infrastructure needed to operate our passenger rail service.
The Passenger Rail Agency’s Protection Services and the South African Police Service’s Rapid Rail Response Unit made another 16 arrests over the past week. Twelve structures were dismantled and removed; and 26 vagrants were removed at Parow, Stikland and the Cape Town Station Deck.
| MPS, RRPU & CONTRACT SECURITY ACTIONS | Number | Detail | *REU ACTIONS | Number | Detail |
| Arrests | 16 | Tampering and/or damage to essential infrastructure; Theft and assault | Arrests | 4 | Possession of stolen property; malicious damage to property; Criminal Matters Amendment Act |
| Trains worked | 1 226 | Joint operations | 6 | ||
| Confiscations | 21 | 3 spades, 1 hacksaw, 3 knives, 2 metres of three-core cabling, 2 metres of two-core electrical cable approximate value R10 000.00 | Confiscations | 40m | Copper cable |
| Searches | 983 | Paarl – Klapmuts, Cape Town | Impoundments: Metal | Spades, knives, pliers, spanner, imitation firearm, hacksaw
| |
| LSA Schedule B (warnings/fines) | 28 | Fines – Traffic by-law, general | 46 | R44 900 | |
| Vagrants removed | 26 | Parow, Stikland, Cape Town Station Deck | Inspections of hotspot areas and scrapyards | 154 | |
| Structures dismantled and removed | 12 | Parow, Stikland, Cape Town Station Deck | Section 56 notices to appear in court | 45 | |
| Joint operations | 2 | Section 341 notices (fines) | 0 | ||
| Campaigns (safety, level crossing) | 0 | Stop-and-search actions | 1 075 | ||
| Court appearances & convictions | 1 | 226 days awaiting trial - 5 year sentence for theft of goods to the value of R1000.00 | Complaints attended to | 13 | |
| PRASA Protection Services is tasked to ensure Legal Succession Act compliance, crime prevention and commuter safety. | *
The
Rail Enforcement Unit (REU) is a special security initiative funded by PRASA, the City of Cape Town and PGWC Department of Transport & Public Works) to focus on bylaw compliance, metal theft prevention and to support SAPS Railway Police in the protection of commuters. Its 100 law enforcement officers are trained as Peace Officers with traffic warden and street survival skills and firearm competency and also focus on bylaw compliance. The Unit's performance is reflected separately to monitor performance and assess feasibility. | ||||
The unit is making good progress. It is early days yet, but already we are seeing good arrests for cable theft and other crimes, but also for fare evasion. I think, more importantly, trends are emerging around hot spots, which helps inform our deployment patterns and that’s a plus. The longer this unit remains in operation, the more intelligence they’re able to gather, which means even greater efficacy,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
‘We have been receiving positive feedback from members of the public who have spotted the REU in action over the last few months. The overwhelming sentiment has been positive, with citizens welcoming this joint initiative and deployment. As the number of operations and searches increases, so too will the number of arrests made of criminals in our rail network. We are making progress in clamping down on crime in the network, and placing criminals behind bars,’ said Minister of Transport and Public Works and Chairperson of the Rail Management Task Team, Donald Grant.
‘The good combined results of the respective law enforcement agencies tasked with rail safety announced last week bears testament to the power of collaboration. The recent arrest of an ex-employee proves no one is above the law. We will show no fear or favour – a crime is a crime and we will continue to crack down on offenders,’ said Metrorail Western Cape Regional Manager, Richard Walker.
The public can assist the REU by reporting crime and vandalism, as this forms part of the intelligence that drives deployment and operations.
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