Everyday
6
to 7 million people travel on Metrorail. It is a
vital mode of transport for the poor, yet the
trains they board are unsafe and unreliable.
The Metrorail system is in many areas virtually
collapsing due to government’s ongoing
under-funding of the service. It means that
passengers risk death and injury simply getting
to work. Recently, the country was shocked by
the brutal murder of over 20 people, who were
thrown off moving Metrorail trains.
Allegedly
they were security guards killed for failing to
support the SATAWU strike. This turned a
spotlight on the many ordinary people who have
been killed while travelling on Metrorail, or
who were maimed and disabled after falling off
trains… simply because the doors didn’t close.
Five years ago twenty-year-old Juan van Minnen
was stabbed to death on his way home to Fishoek,
Cape Town. At the time, there was no security at
the station or on the train. The loss of his
son spurred Les van Minnen on to form the Rail
Commuter Action Group. This group of angry
commuters from the Western Cape took Metrorail
to court, trying to force it to take
responsibility for its passengers. They went
all the way to the Constitutional Court which in
2004, ruled that Metrorail is responsible for
commuter safety and security. Everyone believed
that Metrorail would act in good faith and that
people would start to see improvements to the
system. But the ruling hasn’t brought any of
the changes the Action Group hoped for. Instead
Metrorail has instituted court case after court
case, seemingly to evade its responsibilities.
The
situation on trains and at stations now is much
the same as it was years ago - if not worse.
Signals frequently don’t work, trains take off
with doors open, passengers cling to the outside
of coaches.
As we gear up for the 2010 World Cup, we
question whether Metrorail will be able to cope.
“End of the Line” is produced
by Sasha Wales-Smith with camerawork by Shamiel
Albertyn and Jan de Klerk.
