Tragic death of toddler near Philippi train station raises urgent safety concerns
A two-year-old boy from the Down Town informal settlement near Philippi train station died after being struck by a train on Saturday, August 9.
Aluphiwe Mtshintsho sustained severe head injuries and a broken leg after being hit while playing near the railway tracks. He was transported to a nearby hospital but died of his injuries the following day.
A toddler from Down Town informal settlement, located right next to the Philippi train tracks, was hit by a train while playing and died. The incident, which occurred last Saturday, has renewed calls for the station to be fenced.
Image: siyavuya khaya
At the time of the incident, Aluphiwe was under the care of his grandmother, Vuyelwa Gxe, while his mother was away in the Eastern Cape attending to family matters.
Ms Gxe told Vukani she had briefly left the child at a neighbour's house with instructions to remain indoors. Shortly afterwards, a security guard arrived carrying the injured child, accompanied by a neighbour.
“The security guard put my grandson on the couch. He was bleeding profusely. I grabbed him and ran toward the train station, hoping to get help,” said Ms Gxe.
A security patrol vehicle eventually picked her up, but was reportedly not permitted to transport them to the hospital. They waited approximately 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.
Ms Gxe blamed the lack of fencing between the informal settlement and the railway line, saying that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, (Prasa) had previously promised to install barriers before restoring train services, but had yet to act.
“I believe if Prasa had put up a fence, my grandson would still be alive,” she said.
“This is not the first incident, and sadly, it won’t be the last. Children are still playing near the tracks.”
She also told Vukani that electric cables alongside the tracks have "electrocuted" people in the past.
When Vukani visited the area, children were seen playing dangerously close to the tracks, seemingly unaware of the risks.
Residents are now calling on Prasa to urgently install fencing and improve safety measures along the railway.
Prasa spokesperson Zinobulali Mihi confirmed that the agency has received a report and is investigating the matter.