News and events

SA beefs up railway police

Share |

1 October 2009

South Africa is to roll out more police mobile coaches in order to combat crime at the country's railway stations, where the number of railway police officers has grown to 2 400.

Police mobile coaches were introduced to facilitate the arrest and charging of criminals on board trains on long-distance routes, instead of waiting for the train to reach the next station.

Speaking at the launch of the National Transport Month at Johannesburg's Park Station this week, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said that more than 2 400 police officers were currently deployed at South Africa's major railway stations.

More than 55% of South Africans rely on public transport, of which over two million use trains.

"We want to create an environment where our commuters travel without fear or hindrance," said Mthethwa.

Transport safety

In July this year, Transport Minister Sbusiso Ndebele said that the construction of rail police stations in Cape Town, Retreat, Bellville and Phillipi in the Western Cape was complete.

Construction of rail police stations are also at an advanced stage in Durban, Reunion, Cavendish and KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in Tshwane (Pretoria), Denneboom, Mabopane, Germiston, New Canada and Johannesburg in Gauteng province.

"It is of no use to spend billions of rands in transport infrastructure and services without making sure that transport users are safe," Ndebele said at the time.

Mthethwa added that in addition to mobile coaches, the police ministry would ensure that mobile police stations, introduced a few years ago, would become more visible at most of the country's transport facilities.

Source: BuaNews