DAVEYTON TRAIN STATION MASSIVELY VANDALISED

The Daveyton train Station situated in Basothong section was found massively vandalised, on July 24, 2020. In that occurrence they destroyed the station’s platforms, name and direction sign boards, electricity supplying power points, tickets area, passenger waiting area, entrance and control area, the toilets and geysers were also damaged. One of the community members who availed himself at the vandalism scene, who wanted to remain anonymous, stated that, “usually people who are always found to be doing such unlawful acts are nyoape junkies and foreigners.” However on the other hand during the weekend a manager and former employee of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) was arrested in possession of stolen assets belonging to the rail agency, that worth almost R2m. The busts were made by the police's Organised Crime Unit and PRASA's Protection Services division, the rail service said in a statement. “One of the suspects is an employee of PRASA at management level at a signal depot in the Germiston area situated in Ekurhuleni and the other one is a former PRASA manager who now owns an electrical and railway equipment supply company.” PRASA said a warrant was secured to search the premises of the manufacturing company. About 12 points machines and 50 signal tuning units, all belonging to PRASA, were recovered. The two suspects were detained at Elsburg police station and are expected to appear in the local magistrate’s court on Monday. PRASA said the investigation continues and further arrests are possible. The rail service appointed retired brigadier-general Tebogo Rakau as acting head of its protection services earlier this year. The service has also announced that it is insourcing security personnel. “This follows PRASA administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo's decision to insource the security personnel after several security contracts were terminated by PRASA. The contracts were found by the offices of the public protector and the auditor-general to have been irregular. “Four PRASA employees were dismissed last month as a result of their involvement in the procurement of the irregular contracts and 3,100 new recruits are expected to commence their guard duties in August 2020,” PRASA said.