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Pensioner wins legal battle against Prasa for train robbery injuries
Cape Times
|December 08, 2025
A PENSIONER has been successful in his legal bid to hold the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) liable for injuries sustained after he and his wife were robbed on a Metrorail train en route to Retreat Station.
The Western Cape High Court found Prasa liable for 72-year-old Jacob Barnett’s proven or agreed damages in relation to the incident when a brick was thrown at him.
“I am satisfied that the Plaintiff has proven his case and that it was the defendant's failure to safeguard the Plaintiff whilst he was a passenger on the train, that ultimately resulted in the injuries that he suffered from the incident where the brick was thrown at him.
“I am unable to find that the Plaintiff could do anything to prevent the attack on him, and he was an innocent passenger,” the court found.
Barnett is claiming R100 000 for past and future medical expenses and R500 000 for general damages. This aspect of the case is to be determined at a later court date.
According to Barnett's testimony, the couple boarded a Metrorail train at Cape Town Station. Their harrowing experience began when the train made a stop at Hazeldene Station.
Three unknown men, accompanied by a woman, entered the train at this stop.
This story is from the December 08, 2025 edition of Cape Times.
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