Train vandals must be treated like murderers, rapists and treasonists - union
19 June 2017
Cape Town - People caught vandalising transport infrastructure deserve to spend the rest of their lives in jail, the United National Transport Union (Untu) has said. This comes as vandalism caused delays on Metrorail's Cape Town commuter lines on Monday morning.
"Untu has no choice but to demand from the legislature to impose life imprisonment for these crimes - similar to that imposed for offences of premeditated murder, gang rape, serial rape and treason," said Steve Harris, Untu general secretary.
Untu said the serious damage to the economy and the risk to people's lives that flows from continuing vandalism and theft warrants stricter sentencing, however felt magistrates seem loathed imposing the maximum sentence of 30 years that the Criminal Matters Amendment Act allows.
On Monday morning Metrorail in the Western Cape again reported delays of up to 50 minutes due to vandalism.