A face covered with scars from acid burns is a permanent reminder of the fateful day that changed Nantsie Lekgetsho's looks forever.
The creche teacher from Khutsong Extension 5, Carletonville, was a reference point at the rail commuter summit held in Johannesburg at the weekend.
The summit, organised by commuters' organisation United Commuters Voice (UVC), was attended by officials from the Gauteng legislature's portfolio committee on roads and transport, Rail Safety Regulator, law enforcement agencies and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa).
UVC wants to bring the plight of commuters to the attention of operators and the relevant government agencies. The gathering also heard commuters were exposed to criminals because they walked in dangerous places at night when trains broke down or got stuck due to power cuts.
Lekgetsho's case was cited as an example of how her regularly coming home late from work resulted in the disfiguring of her face in 2013.
The mother of two said her husband poured acid on her face after protracted quarrels because she frequently came home late from work.
She emphasised that being a loyal customer, who bought a monthly ticket, she had not expected such suffering.
Lekgetsho travels between Oberholzer and Midday train stations.
"I had fought with my husband because of arriving home at midnight when I had actually boarded a train at 3.30pm from Midway station," she said.
Lekgetsho saidhe accused her of having an affair.
A few days later he poured acid on her face after she arrived home late again.
"I want to tell Metrorail that you have caused your customers pain. People have lost their jobs and marriages have been destroyed because of you," she said.
Metrorail spokeswoman Lillian Mofokeng said she would need to investigate whether there was a formal complaint lodged with Prasa, but admitted that their service was not up to the required standard.
Call for special railway court
A regulatory body has recommended the establishment of a fund to compensate victims of train accidents and the establishment of specialised courts to prosecute rail crimes.
Rail Safety Regulator legal team member Khaya Madlwabinga made the call during a rail summit organised by a commuter organisation, United Commuters Voice (UCV), in Johannesburg on Friday.
UCV said it organised the event to address the plight of passenger train commuters because bad service by Metrorail and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA exposed them to crime because of trains that frequently ran behind schedule
He said the National Prosecution Authority dealt with serious crimes and itself said it lacked expertise to handle rail crimes.
Madlwabinga proposed the establishment of a rail accident fund to cater for the victims of rail-related accidents.
He also proposed the formation of rail courts to prosecute rail crimes.
Poor train service in spotlight
A face covered with scars from acid burns is a permanent reminder of the fateful day that changed Nantsie Lekgetsho's looks forever.
The creche teacher from Khutsong Extension 5, Carletonville, was a reference point at the rail commuter summit held in Johannesburg at the weekend.
The summit, organised by commuters' organisation United Commuters Voice (UVC), was attended by officials from the Gauteng legislature's portfolio committee on roads and transport, Rail Safety Regulator, law enforcement agencies and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa).
UVC wants to bring the plight of commuters to the attention of operators and the relevant government agencies. The gathering also heard commuters were exposed to criminals because they walked in dangerous places at night when trains broke down or got stuck due to power cuts.
Lekgetsho's case was cited as an example of how her regularly coming home late from work resulted in the disfiguring of her face in 2013.
The mother of two said her husband poured acid on her face after protracted quarrels because she frequently came home late from work.
She emphasised that being a loyal customer, who bought a monthly ticket, she had not expected such suffering.
Lekgetsho travels between Oberholzer and Midday train stations.
"I had fought with my husband because of arriving home at midnight when I had actually boarded a train at 3.30pm from Midway station," she said.
Lekgetsho saidhe accused her of having an affair.
A few days later he poured acid on her face after she arrived home late again.
"I want to tell Metrorail that you have caused your customers pain. People have lost their jobs and marriages have been destroyed because of you," she said.
Metrorail spokeswoman Lillian Mofokeng said she would need to investigate whether there was a formal complaint lodged with Prasa, but admitted that their service was not up to the required standard.
Call for special railway court
A regulatory body has recommended the establishment of a fund to compensate victims of train accidents and the establishment of specialised courts to prosecute rail crimes.
Rail Safety Regulator legal team member Khaya Madlwabinga made the call during a rail summit organised by a commuter organisation, United Commuters Voice (UCV), in Johannesburg on Friday.
UCV said it organised the event to address the plight of passenger train commuters because bad service by Metrorail and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA exposed them to crime because of trains that frequently ran behind schedule
He said the National Prosecution Authority dealt with serious crimes and itself said it lacked expertise to handle rail crimes.
Madlwabinga proposed the establishment of a rail accident fund to cater for the victims of rail-related accidents.
He also proposed the formation of rail courts to prosecute rail crimes.
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