Gauteng’s MEC for Roads and Transport on Thursday said the attack on a woman near the Gautrain Centurion Station’s should not be used to “instigate racial slurs in our communities”.

Dr Ismail Vadi said the assault on Midrand resident Joanne Atkin should instead be treated as a “criminal and inhumane incident”

Atkins was reported to have sustained stab wounds to her arm during the robbery just metres away from the train station on Saturday.

Photos of her injuries went viral on social media‚ with many questioning safety in the area‚ and some adding racial epithets to their commentary.

Vadi suggested that security could be beefed up soon at Gautrain stations‚ saying the “Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) will set up a meeting with the South African Police Services to discuss the increase of police visibility and presence around the Gautrain stations — especially at the Centurion Station.

 “A similar arrangement is currently in place at Rhodesfield Station.

“Stringent measures are in place to ensure that the Gautrain system is safe and secure. Crime is a social ill that is destroying our nation. Thus we all have to speak out against it and report such incidences to the police.”

 Vadi also wished Atkin a speedy recovery‚ and said: “It should also be noted that the reason why the GMA could not confirm the incident was because the case was only reported late on Tuesday at the Lyttleton Police Station.”

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