By Surihe Gaomas
WINDHOEK
TransNamib Holdings Limited has appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the train accident that occurred on August 28, some 10 kilometres south of Windhoek, in which train driver Sidney Coetzee was killed.
Assistant train driver George Sankandi was seriously injured in the accident.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of Transnamib Rairirira Mbetjiha said the commission is set to start with formal investigations soon and is expected to conclude it findings and recommendations within a period of three weeks.
The commission will be chaired by Windhoek lawyer Phillip Ellis from Ellis and Partners and consists of internal and external experts in train operations, train dynamics, rail track technology and technical aspects of locomotives and rail wagons.
On the same panel will be representatives from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication and the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (NATAU).
The train derailment that cost the life of train driver Sydney Bessel Coetzee and seriously injured assistant driver George Sankandi occurred when an old goods locomotive derailed some 10 kilometres outside Windhoek within the vicinity of Heroes Acre.
The accident happened at around 22:00 when the locomotive of eight wagons carrying 500 tons of ballast stones derailed and overturned.
At the time Sankandi sustained six broken ribs and a broken collarbone.
The late Coetzee started working at Transnamib in 1993 as a shunter (someone who couples and uncouples wagons) and later moved onto become a train driver.
The train accident happened while the locomotive was carrying ballast for maintaining railway lines, from the Aries Quarry to Windhoek.
The train went completely off the rail tracks causing excessive damage not only to the rails but also the wagons.