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A JOURNEY home after a long day?s work resulted in the death of 34-year-old Grassy Park resident, Abdul Karan.

The thieves, apparently wanting his cellphone, killed him by throwing him from the train.

The incident happened on Thursday, 1 May, at Woodstock Station: just one stop after Cape Town Station, where Abdul had boarded.

Abdul's sister, Zuweeda Karan, says that she leaves for work at about 19:00 in the evening, and was surprised when her bro?ther had not returned by then.

"We knew he was not irresponsible, but thought that because it was a public holiday, maybe the time of the trains had changed."

Later that evening, the family was informed of Abdul's death.

It is alleged that he was liste?ning to music on his cellphone at the time of the crime.

Zuweeda says that the thieves flung her brother off the train as it was leaving Woodstock Station, but Sergeant Hilton Malila, communications officer at the Woodstock Police Station, says that Abdul jumped off the train to chase after the perpetrators.

However, Zuweeda says that her brother was badly bruised and she suspects that he fell on his head.

Although the family is saddened by the loss of their brother, Zuweeda explains, "We are Muslim and we believe that if it is your time to go then it is your time to go." However, she says that something must be done about what happened.

She says that she is not aware of the number of security personnel who work on public holidays, but says that there should be more security on the trains on those days. Though the trains are quiet, she says, there are still people who have to work.

In 2004, a Constitutional Court ruling sta?ted that Metrorail and the South African Rail Commuter Corporation have "an obligation to ensure that reasonable measures are taken to provide for security of rail commuters".

This came after the Fish Hoek-based Rail Commuters Action Group fought for Metrorail to take responsibility for train passengers' safety.

This fight occurred after the son of a Fish Hoek man was stabbed to death in 2001 while travelling in a first-class carriage.

Despite the Constitutional Court's ruling, people are still being robbed and killed on Metrorail trains.

Riana Scott, manager of marketing and communications for Metrorail Western Cape, says, "We are encouraged by the significant reduction in crime since the inception of the Railway Police and the Public Prosecuting Programme, and we are distressed that such an incident occurred".

According to Scott's statistics, as a result of "strenuous efforts" by both Metrorail and the police, crime on trains has reduced by 30%.

Scott explains that Metrorail Protection Services staff, contracted guards, and Railway Police, are "deployed in a planned and systematic manner", but she refrained from answering the question as to how many security officers are placed on each train and how they are spread throughout the train.

In a media enquiry sent to Scott, she refrained from answering the following questions:

? How many deaths have occurred on trains in the Western Cape since the start of this year?

? The incident involving Abdul occurred on Thursday, 1 May, which is a public holiday. What is the procedure regarding security on trains on public holidays?

? Does Metrorail work with a skeleton staff on public holidays? Please provide numbers.

"We would like to express our sincerest condolences to Mr Abdul Karan's family and friends. We implore anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact the investigating to officers at Woodstock Police Station," says Scott.

Anybody with information can phone Detective Inspector Godfrey Johns on (021) 442-3109.

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