28 November 2019
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape Province has learnt of yet another unfortunate torching of trains in Cape Town. The SACP condemns these acts of sabotage and destruction of public assets and public infrastructure, more specifically the burning of trains.
The burning of trains is one of the biggest curses the working class is being subjected to. The impact that is caused by the endless acts of sabotage and arson attacks is increased vulnerability and job losses for the working poor. We regard these acts as treasonous. This situation condemns the poor people of Western Cape into a state of poverty which they will never recover from given the state of our economy.
The rail public transport system in the Western Cape has been dysfunctional; however, the act of burning trains completely collapses the system without any hope of recovery.
Workers in the Western Cape have lost jobs and have had their earnings deducted for arriving late at their workplaces due to late trains. The challenges relating to passenger rail have not been peculiar to the Western Cape, however, given the ratio of train commuters in the province the impact is extremely severe thus inflicting unbearable pain for the majority of the working class in this province.
The SACP reiterates its position that whilst police should hunt the arsonists, more must be done to hold the Prasa Western Cape management accountable. Since 2015, trains have been burned. Strangely, no one has been held accountable for obvious dereliction of duty by those entrusted with managing and protecting state assets in the form of trains. There is no consequence-management in Prasa Western Cape and the working class continues to bear the heavy brunt of their inaction.
Furthermore, the SACP Western Cape Province calls upon the Minister of Transport to institute an investigation to uncover the problems beyond what we see as an act of arson. The burning of trains collapses the ideal of an integrated, safer, reliable and affordable public transport system. It is for this reason that we call upon the Department of Transport to put a moratorium on the increase of bus fares and a need to engage the taxi industry to find a creative method that can shield the working class from paying exorbitant fees.
Issued by SACP Western Cape Province
Contact:
Benson Ngqentsu - Provincial Secretary
Mobile- 082 796 6400
SACP’s response to the National Treasury’s ‘... economic Strategy for South Africa’: https://www.sacp.org.za/sites/default/files/documents/SACP-response-to-the-National-Treasury-paper-released-in-August-2019.pdf
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY (SACP)
Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo
Central Committee Member and Spokesperson
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