15 Die in S. Africa Stampede
Morning rush hour became a deadly stampede Wednesday after security guards used electric prods to control crowds at a railroad station. At least 15 commuters were crushed to death.
What President Nelson Mandela called “a national tragedy” sparked outrage in Tembisa, a black township northeast of Johannesburg. After the stampede, a mob torched a station ticket office and stoned riot police arriving to restore order.
About 60 police officers, backed by an armored vehicle, hurled tear gas and fired shots into the air. The angry crowd, which grew at one point to about 1,000 people, dispersed hours after the stampede.
Rush-hour impatience, people seeking to avoid train fares, tension over stepped-up security and overzealous guards all contributed to chaos at the station.
“This is a disaster that touches the hearts of all of us,” said Transport Minister Mac Maharaj, who put the death toll at 15. He said 65 people were hospitalized.
Patrick Maneli, 29, said security guards began prodding people while asking them for their tickets.
Police inspector Kamal Shivanand said the private security guards used electric prods to repel hundreds of commuters pushing their way past a barrier.
A railroad official said prods had replaced guns because of concern about the dangers of firearms.
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