THOUSANDS of commuters in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, were left stranded yesterday after three Metrorail train coaches were set alight.
The damages were estimated at R9,5million.
Metrorail spokesperson Zino Mihi said yesterday three coaches caught fire at Nolungile station in Khayelitsha at about 4.30am yesterday.
"No casualties were reported," she said, adding that their emergency services had extinguished the fire.
Zihi said they had arranged buses to transport commuters to their destinations.
Metrorail regional manager Lindelo Matya said yesterday: "Initial reports suggest that the fire might have been started deliberately. Three men were seen coming out of the coach. They ran towards the station point to the informal settlement closer to the station."
Matya said commuters tried in vain to chase the suspects. He said the overhead cables were also destroyed and that they were investigating the incident.
While some commuters boarded Golden Arrow buses at Nolungile Station in Site C, others joined long queues at the Kuwait Taxi Rank, also in Site C, to get transport to work.
A stranded commuter said she and her four colleagues were worried that they would lose their jobs.
The woman, who works in Epping, said: "We are worried because of the delays.
"I called our employer and told him about the incident."
Though their boss had provided them with company transport in such situations in the past, he had refused to do so yesterday.
"He told us we must find alternative transport to come to work or we will lose our jobs," said the commuter, who declined to be named.
Another commuter, Mziseli Mlumiso, said he had also phoned his employer and told him about the incident.
Mlumiso, who works at Calnic Painters in Cape Town, said: "In situations such as these our company does not send company transport to fetch us in Khayelitsha."
He said his employer had urged them to come to work even if they were late due to train delays.
Mfuleni resident Sonwabile Gono said he would work short-time because he would report late at work.
Gono called on Metrorail to speedily resolve the problem. A reward of up to R25000 has been offeredfor information leading to the successful conviction of the culprits.
Torching of 3 train carriages delays commuters
THOUSANDS of commuters in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, were left stranded yesterday after three Metrorail train coaches were set alight.
The damages were estimated at R9,5million.
Metrorail spokesperson Zino Mihi said yesterday three coaches caught fire at Nolungile station in Khayelitsha at about 4.30am yesterday.
"No casualties were reported," she said, adding that their emergency services had extinguished the fire.
Zihi said they had arranged buses to transport commuters to their destinations.
Metrorail regional manager Lindelo Matya said yesterday: "Initial reports suggest that the fire might have been started deliberately. Three men were seen coming out of the coach. They ran towards the station point to the informal settlement closer to the station."
Matya said commuters tried in vain to chase the suspects. He said the overhead cables were also destroyed and that they were investigating the incident.
While some commuters boarded Golden Arrow buses at Nolungile Station in Site C, others joined long queues at the Kuwait Taxi Rank, also in Site C, to get transport to work.
A stranded commuter said she and her four colleagues were worried that they would lose their jobs.
The woman, who works in Epping, said: "We are worried because of the delays.
"I called our employer and told him about the incident."
Though their boss had provided them with company transport in such situations in the past, he had refused to do so yesterday.
"He told us we must find alternative transport to come to work or we will lose our jobs," said the commuter, who declined to be named.
Another commuter, Mziseli Mlumiso, said he had also phoned his employer and told him about the incident.
Mlumiso, who works at Calnic Painters in Cape Town, said: "In situations such as these our company does not send company transport to fetch us in Khayelitsha."
He said his employer had urged them to come to work even if they were late due to train delays.
Mfuleni resident Sonwabile Gono said he would work short-time because he would report late at work.
Gono called on Metrorail to speedily resolve the problem. A reward of up to R25000 has been offeredfor information leading to the successful conviction of the culprits.
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