Kevin85ify
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 6, 2019
- 2,684
- 3,429
With the continued economic problems in sadc's largest economy and the second largest economy in Africa, residents have turned to looting the rail infrastructure. Overhead electrical wires have been stolen and train stations are stripped bare.
Already struggling with a crumbing road network, persistent electricity blackouts and public transport these acts of stupidity only make a bad situation worse.
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At about 2.25pm on 28 July, I witnessed the shameless thieving of rail infrastructure during lockdown. Between the Midway and Lenasia stations, five men, dug in up to the waist, were “eating” cables. (Eating is a word used to describe the theft of cables for resale.)
I walked along the rail towards the group of men as they dug with picks. They were not bothered by passersby watching them. They were not bothered that motorists driving in and out of Lenasia were also probably spotting them. They even joked how everything had been “eaten”.
“If a money van is prised open and everyone scrambles for cash, you want to tell me that you will stand by and watch?” commented one.
They boasted about having their fair share of the “eating” of the infrastructure, yet seemed concerned that there was nothing left to steal.
This brazen example of the pillaging and destruction of Gauteng’s rail network is indicative of the challenges that lie ahead as commuters return to the stations to work under Level 1 of lockdown. Infrastructure vandalism and theft range from overhead electrical lines, electrical substations as well as vandalism of station and depot buildings.
Prasa confirmed in September that only three out of 17 rail lines were operational in Gauteng.
Over the past few months, Daily Maverick tracked about 20 train stations and routes including, Kliptown, Jeppe, Germiston, Chiawelo, Midway, Knights, Jeppe, Residensia, Randfontein, Naledi and Doornfontein.
The mining of the rail infrastructure happens day and night, and in full view of the public – including those who are in desperate need of a rail service.
Overhead cables are missing on several train routes, including the Johannesburg-Vereeniging line, Johannesburg-Naledi rail route and Johannesburg-Pretoria rail route, Johannesburg-Pretoria, Johannesburg-Westonaria and Johannesburg-Randfontein rail lines. These have been cut “very close to the bone” as perpetrators ensured that they get away with every possible inch of cable. Small pieces are left hanging overhead.
Underground cables were not spared, with the vast digging up and hacking at train stations. Coaches have also been targeted by criminals, and have been stuck at some stations such as Midway for some time.
Distribution boxes at many stations have been torn and disembowelled of their tiny copper cables. In some instances, the boxes are torched.
The mining of the country’s rail infrastructure has been going on for years. But during lockdown, with no security personnel around, perpetrators escalated their efforts. The extent of the looting of the country’s rail network has been highlighted in various media outlets over recent months.
There have been a total of 1,833 incidents of vandalisation at train stations in Gauteng over the past three years at a replacement cost in excess of R2-billion, it was revealed in a parliamentary response to a DA question in July 2020.
A colleague likened it to illegal mining, where gangs only move on once they are convinced there is nothing left to mine.
Already struggling with a crumbing road network, persistent electricity blackouts and public transport these acts of stupidity only make a bad situation worse.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At about 2.25pm on 28 July, I witnessed the shameless thieving of rail infrastructure during lockdown. Between the Midway and Lenasia stations, five men, dug in up to the waist, were “eating” cables. (Eating is a word used to describe the theft of cables for resale.)
I walked along the rail towards the group of men as they dug with picks. They were not bothered by passersby watching them. They were not bothered that motorists driving in and out of Lenasia were also probably spotting them. They even joked how everything had been “eaten”.
“If a money van is prised open and everyone scrambles for cash, you want to tell me that you will stand by and watch?” commented one.
They boasted about having their fair share of the “eating” of the infrastructure, yet seemed concerned that there was nothing left to steal.
This brazen example of the pillaging and destruction of Gauteng’s rail network is indicative of the challenges that lie ahead as commuters return to the stations to work under Level 1 of lockdown. Infrastructure vandalism and theft range from overhead electrical lines, electrical substations as well as vandalism of station and depot buildings.
Prasa confirmed in September that only three out of 17 rail lines were operational in Gauteng.
Over the past few months, Daily Maverick tracked about 20 train stations and routes including, Kliptown, Jeppe, Germiston, Chiawelo, Midway, Knights, Jeppe, Residensia, Randfontein, Naledi and Doornfontein.
The mining of the rail infrastructure happens day and night, and in full view of the public – including those who are in desperate need of a rail service.
Overhead cables are missing on several train routes, including the Johannesburg-Vereeniging line, Johannesburg-Naledi rail route and Johannesburg-Pretoria rail route, Johannesburg-Pretoria, Johannesburg-Westonaria and Johannesburg-Randfontein rail lines. These have been cut “very close to the bone” as perpetrators ensured that they get away with every possible inch of cable. Small pieces are left hanging overhead.
Underground cables were not spared, with the vast digging up and hacking at train stations. Coaches have also been targeted by criminals, and have been stuck at some stations such as Midway for some time.
Distribution boxes at many stations have been torn and disembowelled of their tiny copper cables. In some instances, the boxes are torched.
The mining of the country’s rail infrastructure has been going on for years. But during lockdown, with no security personnel around, perpetrators escalated their efforts. The extent of the looting of the country’s rail network has been highlighted in various media outlets over recent months.
There have been a total of 1,833 incidents of vandalisation at train stations in Gauteng over the past three years at a replacement cost in excess of R2-billion, it was revealed in a parliamentary response to a DA question in July 2020.
A colleague likened it to illegal mining, where gangs only move on once they are convinced there is nothing left to mine.
