Stikland (B 16)

Name: Stikland

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A Kraaifontein Police Inspector probably saved the lives of some panic-stricken train commuters when he tackled a gunman who had opened fire.

In a desparate attempt to wrestle the firearm from the man, Insp Gerhard Claasen flung the man from the train, while an accomplice jumped out.

Insp Claasen was unarmed and in full uniform while travelling from Woltemade Railway Station to Kraaifontein. He had just dropped off a police vehicle at the Maitland SAPS Garage for repairs and boarded the train back to his workplace.

The gunman and a friend had boarded the train at the Bellville Railway Station.

While a commuter chatted to Insp Claasen, chaos erupted as shots rang out in the train. Commuters started screaming and scattered in all directions, as some attempted to jump from the doors and windows.

Insp Claasen shouted for the people to get down onto the floor. He recalls the incident: "While the man repeatedly shot at the people, his friend tried to keep the door open. A male commuter was hit in the face. Everything happened so fast but I remember tackling the gunman to protect the other passengers."

In the scuffle, the shooter fell out of the open door as the train pulled into Stikland Railway Station. Insp Claasen got out of the train and ran to where the gunman was laying along the tracks, and arrested him. He called for back-up from colleagues based at the railway station, and a manhunt was launched, ending in the arrest of the suspect's accomplice.

Insp Claasen called for an ambulance, which took the wounded commuter to a local hospital. The injured suspect was taken to the hospital under police guard.

Kraaifontein Police's Communication Officer, Capt Gerhard Niemand, praised the efforts and action by Insp Claasen. Insp Claasen (34), is the coordinator for the reservists at Kraaifontein Police Station and has 16 years of service in the police.

Capt Niemand said: "Insp Claasen was debriefed and counselled, but did not book off sick. He is really a hero at the station and a good role-model for the junior members and reservists."

Insp Claasen said modestly: "I just did my duty on that day to protect the commuters."

SAPS rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Surname & Initial: N. Joseph
Telephone No: (021) 4177358
Cellphone: 082 777 6004

May 08 2002 at 10:47AM




By Maureen Marud


Six victims of train terror have joined forces with a group of Cape Town commuters seeking to force Metrorail to take responsibility for safety and security on its trains.

Three men and three women, two of whom are widows of victims, tell of extreme violence, maiming and bereavement in affidavits they have added to an application being brought by a group of Peninsula commuters.

The group is asking the Cape High Court to rule whether Transnet, trading as Metrorail, along with the SA Rail Commuter Corporation and the ministers of transport and of safety and security, are violating the constitutional rights of rail commuters to freedom from violence on trains.

The matter, originally for hearing next month, will now be heard in August, and is likely to take about two weeks, according to Francois Theron, the Cape Town attorney representing the applicants.



They threw him off the moving train
They include Leslie van Minnen, father of Juan van Minnen, a 20-year-old Cape Technikon student who died of stab wounds inflicted during an attack in a first-class carriage last June.

Other applicants are the Rail Commuters Action Group, formed in Fish Hoek after Juan's death, and Jane Styer of Heathfield, who was maimed when flung from a moving train during an attack by a bagsnatcher.

The additional affidavits are from Judin Coulsen, Raymond Love, Hester Fouche, Miriam Adolf, Berendina Fuller and Zolani Matyeni, all of whom said there were no security guards on the trains at the time of the attacks.

In court papers, Judin Coulsen said that one evening in March 1998 he was travelling to Woodstock from Eikenfontein station in Kraaifontein when he was confronted by a group demanding money.

He handed over his week's wages of R500, but they threw him off the moving train.


He did not have a car and could not afford taxis
As a result of his injuries his right arm and leg were amputated. He lost his job and was unemployed for three-and-a-half years.

Raymond Love boarded a train at Eikenfontein station to go home to Stellenbosch. He was standing near the door when, just as the train was pulling out of Stikland station about 6pm, a man grabbed his rucksack, which was over his shoulders.

Love was flung out of the doors of the moving train by the force of the attack.

He landed between the platform and the tracks, and the train went over his legs. Both legs had to be amputated.

Hester Fouche was robbed of her briefcase and personal belongings by three knife-wielding men on a train from Cape Town to De Grendel in December 2000.

She said she had pleaded with her assailants not to hurt her, as she had a small son, but two of the men hacked at her hands and arms with knives, while the third hit her on the head with a broken bottle.

The wounds to her head and hands had left permanent scars.

She still suffered emotional trauma and was getting psychiatric help.

She said she no longer used the train.

Cornelius Adolf, 35, and Nicholas Fuller, 30, both died in June when a gang of nine men armed with knives attacked passengers in a train travelling from Bellville to Unibel station.

Adolf and Fuller resisted the attackers, who beat them, stabbed them and then threw them from the moving train.

Witnesses told the men's widows, Miriam Adolf and Berendina Fuller, what had happened, and both women had to go in search of their husbands along the railway line.

They found their bodies next to the tracks, bearing marks of an extremely violent death.

In addition to the grief of losing husbands and fathers, both families were now suffering financial hardship, said the women.

Matyeni was attacked and robbed between Cape Town and Monte Vista on a train in October. He was stabbed in the face and thrown from the train window.

After regaining consciousness next to the track, he had to walk, still bleeding, to the nearest station, where he found the ticket office closed and no guards on duty.

Members of the public at the station helped him.

He still travelled by train because he did not have a car and could not afford taxis.

All the applicants claim the way the service is operated and police is "wrongful, unlawful and in violation of the constitutional rights of rail commuters to life and freedom from all forms of violence from private sources".

They are asking the court to restrain Metrorail from operating any train in the Western Cape that is not staffed with at least three guards and one conductor.

They also want Metrorail to forbid any train in the Western Cape to stop at any station or platform not manned by personnel responsible for ensuring passenger safety.

The commuter hit list


Juan van Minnen, a Cape Technikon student, was stabbed to death in an attack in a first-class carriage near Mowbray last June.


Judin Coulsen was robbed after leaving Eikenfontein station and thrown off the moving train. His right arm and leg were amputated.


Raymond Love was robbed on a moving train at Stikland station. He fell out of the train which went over both his legs.


Hester Fouche was robbed on a train between Cape Town and De Grendel in December 2000. Two knifemen hacked at her while a third man hit her on the head with a broken bottle.


Cornelius Adolf, 35, and Nicholas Fuller, 30, died after helping passengers being attacked by knifemen between Bellville and Unibel.


Zolani Matyeni was stabbed in the face and thrown off a moving train between Cape Town and Monte Vista. When he staggered to the nearest station it was locked and unmanned.

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