Communication breakdown to blame for deadly train crash
The Railway Safety Regulator has concluded its preliminary investigation into the deadly train crash in Pretoria.
The crash on also left hundreds of people injured.
The regulator found that there was a communication breakdown between train control officers and train drivers.
Three people died and over 600 people were left injured when two trains collided at the Wolmerton train station in Moutain View on Tuesday.
Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng says 23 people are still in the hospital, while only two of the deceased have been identified.
The investigation also revealed that the section from Pretoria north to Mountain View has been operating under manual authorisation since November last year, and that the train drivers and the control officer didn't comply with the language policy when authorising the entrance.
Mofokeng says when there is manual authorisation it's usually as a result of cable theft.
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"We are not ruling out that cable theft could have contributed and also they could be human error elements, however, there are investigations and a full body of inquiry will be set up so we can be able to get to other issues related to the cause.
"But we are definitely not ruling out human error."
Mofokeng says Metrorail is not disputing the Railway Safety Regulator's preliminary findings.
"We are not disputing the report, we are saying 'yes there was a communication breakdown'."
The line between Mabopane and Pretoria station will remain closed until all repairs are concluded.