Booysens train crash follows Prasa’s ‘apparent train smash’

BOOYSENS – When over 200 passengers were injured following a collision in Booysens, it was as though the incident was aligned to the previous day’s events. Furthermore, some believe the incident to be ironic following the PRASA CEO’s expulsion.

Twitter was filled with occurrences which suggested that although the situation was tragic, there was still good opportunity to try relate the two situations. According to RealShowMuscleMan’s twitter account, “Prasa is trying to prove that those locomotives they bought are really needed.”

#TrainCrash Prasa is trying to prove that those locomotives they bought are really needed.

— Vusi (@_Potoman) July 17, 2015

On a much lighter note, Honorable Shilas tweeted, “UnLucky Montana left with the trains brakes I see! Suddenly we have crashes?”

"@BedfordEdenvale: #TrainCrash UnLucky Montana left with the trains brakes I see! Suddenly we have crashes? GWSG https://t.co/ieBFY9rgcO"

— Mphuthi Seloane® (@mashilangwako) July 17, 2015

However, on a more serious note,  the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the board of PRASA to release the record of decision pertaining to what the party has described as a ‘premature ejection’ of PRASA CEO, Lucky Montana.

According to Shaddow Minister of Transport, Manny de Freitas, “Montana will receive every cent of his six-month notice period pay, funded by taxpayers.

“According to the 2012/13 annual report, the most recent that could be found, in 2013 Prasa paid Montana R4.7 million. For this reason, the truth of his ejection must be made public.”

De Freitas believes the money could have been spent on upgrading rail infrastructure, making commuter trains safer, providing security at train stations and improving technologies.

This is a similar point which was raised by Shadow MEC of Transport in Gauteng, Neil Campbell when he referred to an incident where two trains collided in Denver.

Meanwhile, Montana described the decision to axe him as ‘grossly unfair and illegal’.