It is with great sadness in our hearts that the United National Transport Union (UNTU) must announce that a runaway diesel locomotive yesterday afternoon caused the tragic death of train driver Mr. Alexander Flemming, an UNTU member.
Mr. Flemming and two other UNTU members, Mr. Jan Swanepoel, train driver, and Mr. Neo Jason Witkoei, train assistant, were on a train from Rosmead to Beaconsfield in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. Waiting at a signal for the train controller to tell them when they can continue.
UNTU was informed that our members waited for about five minutes for train control to revert back to them when they saw the diesel locomotive coming straight towards them from Noupoort’s direction, at a hastened speed. Mr. Witkoei jumped off the train. The diesel locomotive exploded when it collided with their locomotive and burst into flames.
Mr. Swanepoel was laying on the grass next to the train. He had oil on him. Mr. Witkoei and bystanders from the surrounding communities dragged Mr. Swanepoel away from the flames. The ambulance arrived about 20 minutes later and took Mr. Swanepoel to the nearest hospital in a critical condition.
Mr. Flemming could not manage to escape the locomotive in time. Mr. Swanepoel’s condition is still critical, but stable.
Mr. Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, said Mr. Flemming death is a great tragedy. “It is every train driver’s biggest nightmare to be confronted with a runaway locomotive. This is a freak accident and It does not happen often. Transnet will now conduct an investigation and a board of inquiry will establish what happened and if anyone can be held accountable.
“The Union is thinking of Mr. Flemings’ family and friends in their time of grief. May The Almighty God comfort them during this difficult time,” Mr. Harris said.
According to Mr. Wyndham Evans, President of UNTU, safety is of uttermost importance for a train crew. Every employee has an obligation to stay focussed in whatever they do to ensure that incidents such as this does not occur.
For enquiries phone Mr. Harris on 082 566 5516.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Releases e-mail sonja@untu.co.za or phone 082 463 6806.
