Lauren Isaacs18 September 2024 | 14:23

After train derailment, DA wants safety audit of WC rail infrastructure

Twenty-five passengers were injured when a Metrorail train left the tracks at the Dal Josafat station on Tuesday.

After train derailment, DA wants safety audit of WC rail infrastructure

A passenger train derailed at Dal Josafat Station in Paarl in the Western Cape on 17 September 2024. Picture: Facebook/Drakenstein Farm Watch

CAPE TOWN - Following a train derailment near Paarl, the Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Transnet to conduct a full safety inspection of all rail infrastructure in the Western Cape. 

Twenty-five passengers were injured when a Metrorail train left the tracks at the Dal Josafat station on Tuesday. 

Investigations are underway, but the DA's Anton van Zyl said that the incident highlighted general concerns around the state of the rail network.

"We strongly urge PRASA and Transnet to prioritise a full safety audit across the Western Cape’s rail infrastructure. Ensuring the safety of our commuters is paramount. The people of this province deserve reliable and safe public transport, and it is PRASA’s responsibility to deliver that."