EWN reports that armed guards could soon be deployed to protect Metrorail train drivers in Cape Town.  This is apparently contained in a turnaround strategy presented to unions this week by Passenger Railway Agency of SA (Prasa) acting group CEO Lindikhaya Zide.  

The rail operator is currently facing legal action from the United National Transport Union (Untu), which has taken it and Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi to the Western Cape High Court.  The trade union is seeking an order to compel Prasa to ensure a safe working environment for employees following a series of attacks.  Untu general secretary Steve Harris has welcomed the plan as promising, but was also sceptical, saying:  “It’s no use that you have armed guards and they don’t know how to act or react under certain circumstances.”

• A short report by Xolani Koyana is at EWN
• See too, Prasa beoog gewapende wagte vir treindrywers, at Netwerk24 (limit on access)
• Read Untu’s press statement in this regard at Untu online

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page