Joburg court finds Prasa culpable in case by passenger pushed off moving train

Rail agency failed to prove door was not open

- By Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

The Johannesburg High Court has ruled against the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) after it failed to convince the court that a commuter, Joseph Mdlalose, was not pushed off its moving train.

Mdlalose, an unemployed security guard, was travelling from Naledi to Park Station in Johannesburg on November 12, 2018, when the life-threatening incident occurred at Ellis Park Station.

In his ruling delivered on Wednesday, Acting Judge E Raubenheimer was scathing of Prasa’s defence, describing it as “untenable” and “vague and unsubstantiated”.

Mdlalose told the court he was forced off the moving train due to commuters pushing and shoving as the train approached Ellis Park Station. The train doors had remained open throughout the journey.

“When the train entered Ellis Park station, commuters began to push and shove to disembark from the train. As he was close to the door, the pushing and shoving dislodged him from his position, and he was ejected from the moving train through the open doors,” the judgment reads.