Commuters cause damage estimated at R30m when they set fire to several coaches and two offices at Germiston Station

Date: 6 Oct 2005
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

On 6 October 2005 angry commuters set fire to several coaches and two offices at Germiston Station. The commuters were travelling from Katlehong to Germiston in a train when they set it alight. The train had earlier been delayed due to a technical problem. It is not known how the commuters started the fire. Setting trains on fire is not unusual in South Africa. Commuters often use this method to express their anger over train delays. The damage to trains usually run into millions, in this case, the estimated damage was R 30 million.

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How we know this

01Sapa (2005) Angry commuters set train alight from IOL News (7 October 2005) [online] Available at: www.iol.co.za [Accessed on 28 September 2012]
02Sapa Expect more burning trains, warns Uasa from Mail & Guardian (7 October 2005) [online] Available at: www.mg.co.za [Accessed on 28 September 2012]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, October 4). Commuters cause damage estimated at R30m when they set fire to several coaches and two offices at Germiston Station. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093748

South African History Online (2012) 'Commuters cause damage estimated at R30m when they set fire to several coaches and two offices at Germiston Station', South African History Online, 4 October. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093748 (Accessed: 25 September 2026).

South African History Online, Commuters cause damage estimated at R30m when they set fire to several coaches and two offices at Germiston Station [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093748, (accessed 25 September 2026).

"Commuters cause damage estimated at R30m when they set fire to several coaches and two offices at Germiston Station." South African History Online, 4 Oct. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093748. Accessed 25 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Commuters cause damage estimated at R30m when they set fire to several coaches and two offices at Germiston Station." South African History Online. October 4, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093748.