Mbalula releases report into Mamelodi train crash, vows ‘heads will roll’
A report by the Railway Safety Regulator has found that a Transnet temping machine was the cause of the Mamelodi train crash on Saturday.
Sixty-four passengers and 2 crew members suffered minor to moderate injuries, when the temping machine crashed into a stationary Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) train at the Eerste Fabrieke station in Tshwane.
According to the regulator’s report, the temping machine lost its brakes at the Greenview Station.
"The report concludes that the Transnet temping machine failed at the Greenview Station and lost its brakes causing it to accelerate on the track, towards the Eerste Fabrieke station where it collided with the stationary Prasa train," Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said.
Mbalula released the preliminary report into the crash on Wednesday.
The report has also revealed a communication breakdown between the crew of the temping machine and the Centralised Train Control Centre (CTC).
"The report shows that the signaling between the Eerste Fabrieke and Pienaarspoort stations had not been functional for almost two years," said Mbalula.
The minister assured train commuters that “heads would roll” should negligence be found on the part of any operator.
A full report into the Mamelodi train crash will be made available at the end of August.