A 14-year-old has been taken in for questioning in connection with a case of arson that led to 18 train carriages being razed at the Cape Town Railway Station. The damage from these train carriages being destroyed amounts to R61-million.
The De Waveren Primary School pupil was taken in for questioning when a fellow pupil from the Ruyterwacht community recognised him from a police indentikit.
A school teacher immediately went to the 14-year-old’s home after the pupil alerted her. “The learner’s grandmother told the teacher that her grandson told her he was one of the two guys who allegedly set the train alight. The learner also told his grandmother that he was threatened by the second suspect from Delft, who said if he didn’t co-operate his family would be hurt,” the Elsies Community Policing Forum said.
The teacher then transported the pupil to the Elsies River Police Station. Thereafter, he was transferred to the Cape Town Police Station for questioning by investigators. The 14-year-old divulged the details of the whereabouts of the second suspect in Delft.
The pair will appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court once they are formally charged. As shown on CCTV footage released, four persons were involved and the search is still on for the remaining two suspects.
As reported by IOL, Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott has heard rumours of the arrests, but is yet to receive confirmation from South African Police Services (SAPS).
“Be advised that SAPS detectives are hard at work following up several leads pertaining to the burning of 18 train carriages in Cape Town on Thursday, November 28. Thus far, no one has been charged in connection with the incident,” SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said in a statement.
Picture: Twitter/Metrorail