Just over a year since a rail safety team was formed in Cape Town, as a way of trialing a more hands-on and local approach to keeping passengers safe on the trains, the new team has run hundreds of operations and recorded significant successes!

• Over 235 suspects have been arrested on a range of charges.
• More than 30,000 people have been stopped and searched.
• Stolen copper cable and metal to the value of R400,000 has been recovered.

The initiative, that is 100 officers strong, is run by our DA metropolitan and provincial governments in collaboration with the national body in charge of passenger rail.

“I am delighted that we are making significant contributions to improving security on our rail transport. Capetonians require a safe, reliable train service so that they can travel with peace of mind between home and work, and in search of new opportunities that exist across out city.” – Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, Bonginkosi Madikizela

Unfortunately, the Cape Town government can only do so much without having the control of the South African Police Service or the railway. However, the new rail safety team’s successes are strengthening the case for better rail management and a long-term plan that is run locally.

Our DA governments will keep fighting to make the railway safer – with a view to be able to do much more.

“The province is already proceeding with a full feasibility study on shifting passenger rail away from the control of national government.” –
DA Leader, John Steenhuisen

Our governments are working hard to make your daily commute safer. A big thank you to the officers who work hard every day to try and guarantee our safety!