Recent Payouts for PRASA Claims

Passenger safety on South Africa’s rail network is a growing concern. Underinvestment has resulted in maintenance backlogs, equipment shortages, and overcrowding and violent crime on trains. These factors all contribute to a rising number of injuries and fatalities.

According to the Railway Safety Regulator’s most recent State of Safety Report, 181 injuries and 85 deaths were recorded as a result of operational issues.

People-related incidents involving station infrastructure surged by a staggering 300% year-on-year. Collisions between trains rose by 14%, while 278 derailments were reported over the 12-month period.

Examples of PRASA claim payouts  

If you’ve been hurt while travelling on a train, or embarking or disembarking at a station, and may have a personal injury jury claim against the rail operator, you’ll likely want an idea of how much compensation to expect.

That will depend heavily on the unique facts of your claim. That said, it may be useful to consider some recent payouts for PRASA claims.

Tiripano vs PRASA

In March 2025, the Cape High Court ordered PRASA to pay R6,102,172 in damages to Tatenda Edwin Tiripano, a 40-year-old Cape Town man.

Damages were a result of injuries sustained in an incident at Stikland station on 15 September 2017. On that day, Tiripano fell and struck his head on the station platform after being pushed through the open doors of the train.

The impact resulted in contusions and a skull fracture. The traumatic brain injury has since led to behavioural changes and the inability to advance his career as a sales and marketing coordinator.

Matloga vs PRASA

Ivory Park resident Justice Matloga was returning home on the evening of 16 May 2019 when the train he was on caught alight. In the panic that ensued, Matloga was pushed through the doors while the train was still in motion.

The fall resulted in a soft tissue injury to the left ankle, which was treated at Tembisa Hospital. Matloga was employed as a cleaner at the time.

In an earlier judgement, PRASA was found liable for damages. In November 2024, the Johannesburg High Court quantified damages at R826,840 in full and final settlement of the claim.

MKS vs PRASA

In March 2014, a 14-year-old Gauteng boy was shoved off an overloaded train while it was in motion. The boy lost consciousness after falling head-first onto a hard surface.

He was admitted to Tembisa Hospital where he was treated for a deep cut to the head and right hand. A CT scan revealed he had a depressed skull fracture, which led to cognitive decline and an inability to hold down a job.

More than 10 years later in December 2024, the Pretoria High Court ordered PRASA to pay R1,648,119 in respect of future medical expenses, R448,189 for past loss of earnings, and R3,124,513 for future loss of earnings. A total of R5,220,821 was paid in compensation.

Rautini vs PRASA

In 2011, gardener Masibulele Rautini was thrown through the open doors of a train during a robbery. As a result of the fall, he suffered serious injuries to the head, neck, spine and legs.

Rautini lodged a compensation claim and, six years later, the Cape High Court ruled in his favour on the grounds that PRASA was negligent. The rail operator successfully appealed the ruling in the Western Cape High Court and Rautini, on advice of his attorneys, thereafter approached the Supreme Court of Appeal.

In a landmark judgement passed down in November 2021, the Appeals Court found that the open doors through which Rautini fell and injured himself constituted negligence, and that PRASA’s reliance on unconfirmed contradictory hospital notes constituted inadmissible hearsay evidence.

An amount of R6 503 776.00 in damages was agreed upon between the two parties. Rautini was represented by DSC Attorneys.

Dal Josafat derailment and potential claims against PRASA

In September 2024, two rail coaches derailed at the Dal Josafat station in Paarl. The accident left 24 passengers injured, three in critical condition.

Excess speed was suspected to be one of the causes of the accident.

Based on the fact that PRASA has a duty to care to its passengers, the injured parties may have a valid claim for compensation.

To succeed, it must be proved that negligence on the part of the rail operator contributed to the accident.

Factors affecting compensation from PRASA    

The compensation awarded will depend on the circumstances of a case.

Factors likely to affect payouts for PRASA claims include:

• the nature and extent of any negligence on the part of the operator
• the severity and long-term consequences of injuries
• past and future medical expenses
• past and future loss of earnings
• the expertise and dedication of your legal team.