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ANA reports that a female train driver on the Durban/Stanger route was left traumatised on Tuesday morning after angry commuters who were late for work reportedly threw stones at her when she refused to proceed past a red stop signal.
According to the United National Transport Union (Untu), Gugu Phakathi was ordered to bring the train to a halt so that it could be repaired. Soon afterwards, she resumed her journey but was again ordered to stop at a red signal so that a goods train could pass her train. A mob of angry commuters then threatened to kill her and torch the train. She locked herself in her cabin and when they could not get to her they started stoning the cabin and threatened to kill her and to torch the cabin. Phakathi managed to phone for help from the protection services. She has requested Untu to appeal to Transnet not to force passenger trains to wait at red signals for goods trains to pass during peak hours when commuters needed to get to work. Transnet CE Siyabonga Gama has apparently given Untu an assurance that passenger trains were given preference.
- Read this report in full at The Citizen
- Read Untu’s press statement at Untu online
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page