The platforms where the trains stand at the Cape Town Railway Station are pretty quiet. It’s early morning on Thursday, November 28.
There is no one in sight of the circuit television images. Then two men appear. One has a plastic bottle with transparent liquid in his hand. He is dressed in light pants, a black jacket and a pink scarf partially tied over his head and face.
The other man is dressed in light pants and black hooded top with black, white and red front.
Circuit television images show how the man with the scarf gives the plastic bottle to his companion. He turned around and walked to one of the compartments of the train which stood at the platform.
He forced the compartment door open and entered the train. His companion turns around and enters the same compartment. Seconds later, they ran out – the soft drink bottle containing the translucent liquid, still in one with the black hood top’s hands.
These two men are now being sought by police and Metrorail in connection with the 18 Metrorail train cars that were burnt out at this station and caused major disruption to Cape Town commuters.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said shortly after the incident that four possible suspects were seen on circuit television material and identified after the fire.
Riana Scott, a Metrorail spokeswoman, said Sunday that their fleet now consists of between 38 and 42 trains. “The requirement is 88 trains to serve the current timetable,” she said.
Scott said the loss of capacity is not only because of the fires, but also because of vandalism.
A reward of R100 000 was issued for information that could lead to a successful arrest and prosecution.
