The passenger rail agency of South Africa (Prasa) has dismissed 14 security guards for last year’s alleged attempted robbery at its Hatfield depot.
Spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng said the 14 stormed Prasa premises in Hatfield between 01:30 and 01:50 on 31 October, tied the hands of guards on duty hands behind their back, blindfolded them and assaulted them at gunpoint in an attempt to steal Toyota Quantum vehicles on the premises.
She said the attempted robbery was thwarted by the swift response of the police after being alerted to a robbery in progress and the alleged perpetrators were arrested.
Commenting on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings against the employees, Prasa board chairperson Khanyisile Kweyama said the agency was committed to rooting out crime.
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“The attempted theft by our own security of a large number of brand new vehicles that were waiting to be deployed to the various regions to deliver the much-needed service to our commuters and passengers is indicative of an organisation that could fast lose its purpose if we don’t intervene timeously. As a board, we are happy with this outcome and we now await the outcome of the criminal proceedings which is now in the hands of our justice system.”
Prasa group CEO Dr Nkosinathi Sishi also expressed shock and disappointment.
“It’s quite shocking that these individuals not only attempted to steal the said vehicles but severely assaulted their fellow employees under the guise of simulation to test the strength of our security apparatus,” he said.
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