It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Metrorail when a cable skelm was caught in Bonteheuwel on Friday, but then a ticket office at Retreat train station was set alight at 2am on Sunday morning.
Law Enforcement spokesman, Wayne Dyason, confirmed that an arrest was made on Friday after a boef stole 190 metres of railway cable at the Netreg train station.
“On Friday at about 7.30pm, Law Enforcement Rail Unit officers were again called out to Netreg station where a suspect was busy cutting an overhead feeder cable.
“The officers surprised him with their quick arrival on the scene, but he nevertheless tried to run. He was quickly caught and arrested.
“A hacksaw and 190 metres of cable were recovered.”
The suspect was taken to Bishop Lavis police station to be processed.
Meanwhile, in the early hours of Sunday morning, the Retreat station kiosk was on fire just after 2am. Fire and
Rescue spokesperson, Jermaine
Carelse, confirmed the blaze.
According to a resident, they smelled smoke and went to investigate.
Sally Carolus, 43, says: “I thought it was a train and then later we saw it was the office that burnt.
“There was nobody there. We called the fire department and the police.
“The smoke was horrible and it must have been another arsonist, the same as what happened at the Cape Town Station last week. This is getting out of hand.”
WRECK: Minister Fikile Mbalula inspects burnt-out train in city. Picture: Armand Hough
Last Thursday, 18 carriages on three separate platforms were set alight at Cape Town Station, resulting in the service being suspended for several hours.
No arrests have been made for the arson attack.