Suspects arrested for burning train

Braamfontein – Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) security guards recently detained four people suspected to be involved in the burning of trains at the Braamfontein train yard last year.

  Prasa spokesperson Nana Zenani said the suspects were detained by the guards on Friday night, and were handed over to police at Johannesburg Central police station.

  In December, Gauteng Metrorail spokesperson Lilian Mofokeng said the fire destroyed 10 coaches, five motor coaches and five plain trailers, causing damages of about R50 million. The coaches had been waiting to be repaired and were not in service.

  In the meantime, Prasa said a cable smelting operation had also been uncovered in Heidelberg. Three people were arrested in connection with that operation, where cables were smelted into blocks at an illegal facility in Ratanda.

  One of the suspects is understood to be a Prasa employee. The items recovered were valued at around R2.6 million.

  More information was not available from the police by the time of going to press.