09 Feb 2018 | 01:59 AM UTC
South Africa: Cape Town's Central Line remains closed as of Feb. 8 /update 1
Cape Town’s Central Line train route remains closed as of February 8; transport union workers threaten strike after train employee stabbed February 4
Event
Cape Town's Central Line remained closed due to vandalism along the route as of Thursday, February 8. The suspension of train service on the Central Line is expected to continue in the coming days as maintenance crews carry on with repairs; ongoing vandalism along the line may prolong repair operations.
Additionally, on Wednesday, February 7, members of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) threatened to launch a strike to protest insecure working conditions after a group of armed individuals attacked four ticket officers on Cape Town's Northern Line on Sunday, February 4. One of the attacked employees was reportedly stabbed in the head, and remained in stable condition as of Thursday. Additional rail transportation disruptions are to be anticipated on Cape Town's Metrorail lines in the coming days if UNTU workers go on strike.
Context
On January 10, Metrorail suspended service on the Central Line following the fatal shooting of a security guard at Chris Hani station in Khayelitsha. UNTU workers refused to work on the line in the days following the guard's death, citing security concerns. Subsequent vandalism along the route - which caused the derailment of an empty train during a test run on January 17 - has kept the train line closed in recent weeks. Typically, tens of thousands of Cape Town residents use the Central Line on a regular basis.
Advice
Individuals in Cape Town are advised to monitor local news for updates, verify the service status of Metrorail lines prior to travel, and seek out alternative means of transportation as necessary.
