A Cape teen who was beaten up and robbed on a train says guards at the station watched as his attackers escaped.
|||Cape Town - A Lakeside teenager who was beaten up and robbed on the train between the St James and Muizenberg stations while on his way home from school says security guards standing metres away at the station watched as his attackers escaped.
Metrorail officials have since deployed their chief of Protection Services to investigate the incident.
Tyler Holderness, 17, from Lakeside was travelling home when two men grabbed his cellphone and iPod before assaulting him about 3.15pm on Thursday.
“I got in at Fish Hoek after school. The carriage was quite empty, but I’ve been travelling on that train since last year. The two guys got in at Kalk Bay and they went to sit down. As we left the St James station, they came up to me and grabbed my cellphone. They took my prescription glasses and tried to get my bag,” he said.
Holderness said one of the men started choking him, while the other one started hitting him.
“I tried to push them away and move closer towards the door so I could get away. When the train stopped at Muizenberg station, the one guy ran away and I managed to grab the other one that still had his hands around my neck and held on to him. We managed to get out the carriage and I shouted for help,” Holderness said.
He said during the scuffle, the man dropped his cellphone before escaping.
“There was a security guard standing at the window in the next carriage and two others that arrived, and I asked them to call the police. They didn’t do much so I walked to the police station and gave them the guy’s cell that I picked up. My eye was badly swollen and my neck was full of scratches,” he said.
Holderness said his attackers would’ve been caught had the security guards at the station been more reactive.
Police spokesman FC van Wyk confirmed the that a case of robbery and assault was opened at Muizenberg police station on Thursday.
Van Wyk said police are still searching for the two men who escaped with Holderness’s cellphone and iPod.
Metrorail’s regional manager Mthuthuzeli Swartz said the chief of Protection Services will be investigating the allegations that guards failed to assist Holderness.
* Last week, the railway police stations at Bellville, Cape Town, Philippi and Retreat conducted operations where 18 knives and drugs to the value of R5 128 were seized.
Swartz said a reward of R25 000 will be given for information leading to a conviction in cases on Metrorail.
If anyone witnessed the attack or has information on the case, they can contact Metrorail’s security line at 0800 21 00 81, Crime Stop confidentially at 0860 010 111 or SMS an anonymous tip-off to Crime Line at 32211.
barbara.maregele@inl.co.za
Cape Times