Up to 424 arrests, 467 operations conducted by Rail Enforcement Unit
27 August 2020
The Rail Enforcement Unit (REU), a pilot rail safety project funded by the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and the City of Cape Town, achieved great successes during the past financial year ending 30 June 2020. Over 37 000 individuals were stopped and searched; more than 4 000 patrols conducted in hotspot areas and 424 suspects arrested.
The unit also recovered over 2 000 meters of stolen copper and aluminium cables. The Memorandum of Agreement between the City, PRASA, and the Western Cape Government came to an end on 30 June 2020.
‘We would like to recognise and thank the REU Law Enforcement Officers for their service and contribution since the REU’s inception. I believe the REU has made an impact and we will continue liaising with PRASA and the other stakeholders regarding the possibility of reviving the unit or alternative solutions in future,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.
Over the past two years, the REU has acted as a force multiplier for PRASA’s regional Metro Protection Services Unit. Together, the teams have ensured greater operational visibility on trains and at stations, searching more individuals during joint operations, and confiscating a greater number of dangerous weapons and fraudulent train tickets.
The REU Law Enforcement Officers were trained by the City as peace officers to work together with PRASA’s security in focusing on the safety and security of Metrorail commuters and infrastructure.
Part of the Law Enforcement Officers’ duties was to also support the South African Police Service in identifying those involved in the illicit metals theft industry and the closing down of the so-called ‘bucket shops’. Over the past financial year alone, the REU confiscated and recovered over 2 000m (2 tons) of copper and aluminium cable.
The following successes were recorded by the unit for the period 1 July 2019 to 20 June 2020:
424 arrests on a range of charges including assault, armed robbery, possession of drugs and stolen property, malicious damage to property, and theft
registering 269 cases of which 109 were in terms of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act
37 234 stop-and-searches conducted on trains, platforms and at stations across Cape Town
467 operations within the rail environment
2 000m of copper cable and aluminium cable impounded
4 107 inspections of hotspot areas and scrapyards
Confiscation of various dangerous weapons and equipment used for vandalising and stealing rail infrastructure, including knives, screw drivers; and hacksaw blades
Some of REU law enforcement officers now form part of the City’s Rural Safety Unit and the remainder of officers may be considered for future enforcement projects by following the applicable competitive application processes.
Caption: Pictured here is the level of devastation wreaked upon the rail service infrastructure, post the dismantlement of the REU. The site is in Bonteheuwel where cable had already been stolen. Thieves are now stripping the entire metal infrastructure.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
