Metrorail is investigating how a commuter was robbed and fatally stabbed at a Parow station while security guards were on duty.
Danny Brink, 53, was stabbed in the head and robbed at the Avondale train station in the early hours of Thursday. He later died in hospital.
The incident was one of two railway-related crimes. On Friday evening a Weekend Argus photographer and another commuter were robbed at knifepoint on a train near the Muldersvlei station in Stellenbosch.
The photographer, who asked not to be named, said he and the commuter were alone in the carriage at about 7.30pm when the lights suddenly went out. They were confronted by five armed men who demanded they hand over their belongings.
The lensman’s camera equipment, worth thousands of rand, was stolen.
Ironically, he said, before the robbers left the train they gave him and the other commuter R20 each so they could pay for a taxi home.
At roughly the same time the robbery occurred, a vigil was being held for Brink at the spot on the Avondale station where he was attacked.
Police spokeswoman Constable Noloyiso Rwexana said four robbers had attacked Brink, who worked for a motor repairs company, and a colleague at 5am. Brink had initially refused to hand over his belongings.
He was then stabbed in the head and later died in hospital. No arrests had been made.
Metrorail’s regional acting spokesperson, Daphne Kayster, said they were investigating the circumstances around the crime.
“As part of Metrorail’s deployment strategy two static security (guards) were deployed at the station at the time of the incident. We are awaiting the finalisation of the investigation to determine why the incident happened while security was deployed at the station,” she said.
A specialised task team, consisting of 80 security guards, was formed in a bid to combat rail crimes.
Metrorail regional manager Richard Walker said a planning meeting was convened weekly to determine where and how security guards would be deployed. Security on trains that operated late and at stations identified as hot spots had been increased.
Yesterday Christel Schoeman, chairwoman of the Fairfield Neighbourhood Watch, said renovations being made at Avondale train station could be affecting security.
She said there was security at the station when the attack happened, but the power had been out because of the renovations.
“It means it’s very, very dark on the platform. Security can’t see who is at the end of the platform.”
Schoeman said police had increased patrols in the area.
Brink worked at the Claremont branch of Dals Motor Group.
Lindie Nel, a marketing manager at the company, said his colleagues were shocked at his death, which was the second they were trying to come to terms with after another colleague was killed in a car crash on the N1 about three months ago.
Nel described Brink as “wonderful”.
“You could never think Danny would have a bad day. He was one of those happy people,” she said.
Dals Motor Group also posted a message about him on its Facebook page. “Danny, who was employed by Dals for the last 16 years, life was taken so cruelly and we cannot express the great loss we feel.
“Danny was loyal and could put his hand to anything and make it work. He will be missed,” it said. – Weekend Argus