South Africa's rail network is facing a growing threat from stone-throwing incidents, with the Railway Safety Regulator reporting 300 such incidents in the 2025/26 financial year, representing a 22% surge from the previous year. The regulator's state of safety report identifies stone throwing at commuter trains as a separate hazard pathway of substantial regulatory concern, particularly in Gauteng and Western Cape. This phenomenon is often concentrated in specific geographic hotspots, primarily adjacent to informal settlements.
The stone-throwing incidents pose an immediate threat to passengers, train crew, and rolling stock, frequently resulting in broken windows, passenger injuries, service disruptions, and reputational damage to rail operators. The regulator attributes this distinct community safety phenomenon to local socioeconomic, behavioural, and community-related factors that differ fundamentally from those driving infrastructure theft and vandalism. As a result, stone throwing at commuter trains warrants separate regulatory treatment.
The Railway Safety Regulator's report also highlights a spike in fatalities on the rail network, with 175 people losing their lives and 357 injuries reported in the year, representing a 25.9% increase in fatalities and 19.5% above the five-year average of 146.4 fatalities per annum. Over the past five years, a total of 732 people have died in the country's rail network system, with the majority being hit by trains.
In addition to stone-throwing incidents, the rail network also saw a 10% decrease in copper theft incidents, with 4,050 occurrences reported in the year under review, a 10.2% decrease against the 4,508 recorded in 2024/25. Despite this reduction, theft of assets remains the single largest contributor to security-related occurrences on the rail network, accounting for 70.9% of all such events in 2025/26.
The regulator has called for a coordinated, multi-agency response to mitigate the risk of theft and vandalism, involving the South African Police Service, other law enforcement bodies, and affected municipalities. This approach should be supported by measurable performance indicators for multi-agency partnerships, integration of theft prevention requirements into asset management frameworks, and formal protocols for intelligence sharing and coordinated deployment.
Transnet has taken steps to enhance security on its central corridor, which spans across three provinces, including Gauteng, the Free State, and the North West. The corridor has reported nine theft incidents daily in the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, with crime syndicates targeting overhead track equipment, signal cables, and other valuable assets. Transnet aims to procure the services of over 1,000 security guards, nearly 100 vehicles, and several crime-prevention motorcycles, K9 dogs, and water-resistant drones to protect the corridor.
The central corridor is a vital thoroughfare and pivotal connection point for other corridors, supporting regional integration and serving as a feeder to several major ports. The corridor's protection is crucial to the north-south interface through landlocked Botswana and the overall efficiency of the rail network. The regulator and Transnet's efforts aim to address the systemic risk of theft and vandalism, ensuring a safer and more secure rail network for passengers and operators alike.
Key points
- The Railway Safety Regulator reported 300 incidents of stone throwing in 2025/26, a 22% surge from the previous year.
- The rail network saw a spike in fatalities, with 175 people losing their lives and 357 injuries reported in the year.
- Transnet aims to procure over 1,000 security guards and deploy drones to protect its central corridor from theft and vandalism.
