EWN reports that lobby group Unite Behind says that the latest train torching in Cape Town drives home its point that the rail crisis needs to be declared a national disaster.  

Twelve coaches were destroyed in an arson attack at Cape Town station on Easter Sunday, resulting in damages of R33 million.  A suspect, Thobela Xoseni, was arrested a day after the incident and has since appeared in court.  Last week, several civil society groups called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare the state of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) an emergency, and for the army to be deployed to protect rail infrastructure.  Unite Behind organiser Lumkile Sizile said the latest incident was proof of the severity of the situation.  “We want our president and transport minister [Blade Nzimande] to take the situation seriously.  There are few trains in the Western Cape, a lot of people are struggling... this is a national problem,” Sizile stated.  Meanwhile, Metrorail in the Western Cape expressed fears on Tuesday that the latest train fire could be a sign of more to come.

• Read the original of Monique Mortlock’s report on the above at EWN

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