Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, condemned the arson attack this morning at the Newclare Railway Station and the physical damage to road infrastructure in the township.
Angry residents who are aggrieved by the slow pace of housing development went on a rampage and burnt two offices at the station, vandalised the fencing and damaged the railway lines. Damage to railway property is estimated to be in excess of R10 million.
Vadi said that while he understood the "sense of grievance of some residents it is totally unacceptable that they burnt the station; dug up roads and damaged street lights and robots".
"Their concerns have nothing to do with transport and railway issues and such wanton acts of destruction must be condemned," he said.
Train services between Randfontein and Johannesburg have been suspended indefinitely as a result of the arson attacks and will adversely affect almost 100 000 daily commuters, he said.
Vadi expressed his sincere condolences to the family of George Loff, a passer-by, who was allegedly killed during the protests. The circumstances surrounding his death are not known at this stage.
Vadi expressed extreme disappointment at the fact that police were on site during the protests and failed to protect state property when the railway station was attacked on two separate occasions.
For more information:
Octavia Mamabolo
Head of Communications
Cell: 082 316 8666
Tel: 011 355 7300
Email: Octavia.Mamabolo@gauteng.gov.za
