2 arrested in connection with Cape Town train driver's murder

schumi

schumi

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Cape Town – Two people were arrested for allegedly fatally shooting Metrorail driver Piet Botha at the Netreg station in Cape Town, Western Cape police said on Tuesday.

Botha, 46, had been doing refresher training on a railway line and was waiting for a train on Monday when he was killed, according to the United National Transport Union.

Police officers followed up information and arrested a 22-year-old for murder and illegal possession of a firearm on the same evening, said police spokesperson Constable Noloyiso Rwexana.

Another person, 37, was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm on Tuesday morning.

Rwexana said the arrest followed information about the possible murder weapon being kept in a house in Bishop Lavis.

"Police found the bag hidden under the bed in one of the rooms and arrested the suspect."

Metrorail regional manager in the Western Cape, Richard Walker, told News24 that the fatal shooting was caught on camera thanks to a new system and the installation of CCTV cameras at stations.

The shooting sparked fears among fellow train drivers for their safety in crime-infested areas.

On Tuesday, the Congress of SA Trade Unions protested outside the city's office on Tuesday, where they handed over a memorandum demanding an improved public transport service and better safety for workers.

The memo demanded that a guard be placed in every occupied carriage.

Metrorail offered its condolences to Botha’s family.

"Our hearts go out to his family who must face the loss of a husband and father. His death is an enormous blow to his family and his colleagues," Walker said.

Walker also apologised to commuters for the inconvenience.

News24
Link: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...-with-cape-town-train-drivers-murder-20160712

[video=youtube;SHJlN5Ocrqk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHJlN5Ocrqk[/video]
 
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What I find weird about capetonians is that they think they live in the best place in SA, when it comes to crime CT is a schitehole. In the few years I lived there I saw quite a few people getting stabbed to death just at ct station. I would hate to know how much worse it gets in disadvantaged areas. Gangsterism has been an issue there even in apartheid days so it's not like you can blame any political party for the crime.

They are like americans thinking they live in the best place in the world and don't travel much. You travel around SA and outside of ct you don't see many people from the wp. I mean when you tell ct people the place you would most like to live in is llandudno and they ask you where is that then you just give up hope (I schite you not).
 
ponder said:
What I find weird about capetonians is that they think they live in the best place in SA, when it comes to crime CT is a schitehole. In the few years I lived there I saw quite a few people getting stabbed to death just at ct station. I would hate to know how much worse it gets in disadvantaged areas. Gangsterism has been an issue there even in apartheid days so it's not like you can blame any political party for the crime.

They are like americans thinking they live in the best place in the world and don't travel much. You travel around SA and outside of ct you don't see many people from the wp. I mean when you tell ct people the place you would most like to live in is llandudno and they ask you where is that then you just give up hope (I schite you not).
Click to expand...

Just say Hout Bay k? I had to google... (Twice! since there is a Llandudno in Wales)

Anyway, did they rob him or just kill him for the heck of it? Need the death sentence back...
 
ponder said:
What I find weird about capetonians is that they think they live in the best place in SA, when it comes to crime CT is a schitehole. In the few years I lived there I saw quite a few people getting stabbed to death just at ct station. I would hate to know how much worse it gets in disadvantaged areas. Gangsterism has been an issue there even in apartheid days so it's not like you can blame any political party for the crime.

They are like americans thinking they live in the best place in the world and don't travel much. You travel around SA and outside of ct you don't see many people from the wp. I mean when you tell ct people the place you would most like to live in is llandudno and they ask you where is that then you just give up hope (I schite you not).
Click to expand...
Where is that?
 
I wonder why he was waiting for the train there. Netreg/Lavistown or Bonteheuwel you're just looking to get killed.
 
YingYang said:
I wonder why he was waiting for the train there. Netreg/Lavistown or Bonteheuwel you're just looking to get killed.
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Apparently he was doing refresher training with the drivers so got off the previous train after finishing with that driver and was waiting for the next train and that driver. But I agree that is one of the dangerous stations.
 
Ninja'd said:
"Only the Cape Flats area" - mybb users
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Well it mostly is the Cape Flats areas in my experience (have friends who live or have lived in the flats). I've lived in Cape Town since 2007 and the only time I've been a victim of crime is when I was mugged in Cape Town CBD in 2009/2010 outside the McD's by the train station. Drugged up dude basically threatened to get nasty with me and I wasn't in the mood to cause *** with some druggy over R30. We've also had a couple of break-ins in our complex, but CCTV and a groundskeeper solved that problem.

I lived in KZN longer, and it was also way more violent where I lived. Lots of attempted break-ins, shootings at the club down the street, one dude pulling a knife on me after I went to buy bread the one day... lots of fun, and this was considered one of the better Indian suburbs. (Some of) Cape Town may not be perfect, but I'll take it over my old neighbourhood any day.
 
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ponder said:
What I find weird about capetonians is that they think they live in the best place in SA, when it comes to crime CT is a schitehole. In the few years I lived there I saw quite a few people getting stabbed to death just at ct station. I would hate to know how much worse it gets in disadvantaged areas. Gangsterism has been an issue there even in apartheid days so it's not like you can blame any political party for the crime.

They are like americans thinking they live in the best place in the world and don't travel much. You travel around SA and outside of ct you don't see many people from the wp. I mean when you tell ct people the place you would most like to live in is llandudno and they ask you where is that then you just give up hope (I schite you not).
Click to expand...

CPT has safe areas and dangerous places just like any city. I stayed there for over 10 years, now in JHB for a few months.

The difference between CPT and other cities though is that the dangerous areas are more clustered to one side and you almost never have to pass through or go there. Whereas it seems in JHB there are dangerous areas in pockets that you are going to pass through often enough, even if you live/work in a safe area.
 
'Piet won't die in vain,' Prasa vows at slain train driver's memorial

Cape Town - Prasa vowed on Thursday to "take our station back" after hundreds of mourners turned out for a memorial service at Netreg Station for slain train driver Piet Botha in Cape Town.

Members of Prasa, Metrorail and provincial MEC for transport and public works Donald Grant spoke on the Netreg train station platform to show their support for the Botha family.

Wife Tania, son Brandon and daughter Nadia sat in the front row of the makeshift memorial area as they said goodbye to their husband and father.

Pastor Nkosinathi Bence led the service. "This place will be remembered as the place where our brother Piet fell," he said.

Botha was described as being well-loved by his colleagues and family members.

'A real joker'

Aubrey Hyman, train control manager for the Wellington line, said Piet was a character like no other.

"This past week was indeed a sad day at our depot.

"To us Piet Botha was more than a colleague. When Piet was in a meeting, everyone knew Piet was in the meeting. When Piet was in the mess hall, everyone knew Piet was in the mess hall.

"He was that type of man."

A light moment followed as someone in the crowd said "a real joker", causing the entire Botha family to laugh knowingly.

"My last conversation with Piet, he said he was here at Netreg because he wanted to train someone else to be the best."

Botha had been training a younger train driver on the day he was killed.

Most dangerous station

Prasa board representative William Steenkamp said Prasa will ensure that security is beefed up at Netreg station.

"This station is the most dangerous station in Cape Town. We are not treating it as such. It is most important that that changes, and the minister is tired of defending Prasa.

"We are going to take our station back. No matter what happens, gangs can't control our station. We cannot let Piet die in vain."

Metrorail regional manager Richard Walker and Pieter Visser, a representative for train driver's at the organisation, also addressed the packed platform.

After the memorial, flowers were mounted on the fence around the spot where Botha was shot, and candles were lit on the spot where he died.

Botha's wife Tania told News24 that it was difficult to describe how she was feeling, but was amazed at all the support shown today from Prasa and the community.

Moments after the family and mourners left the memorial service, shots rang out in a street adjacent to the station, leaving three children wounded after the occupants of a Citi Golf fired shots at a house.

News24
Link: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...says-at-slain-train-drivers-memorial-20160714
 
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