Presented against the backdrop of a world-altering pandemic, Transport Deputy Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga on October 20 said this year’s ‘State of Safety (SOS)’ report published by the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic “led to major operators across the country producing significantly fewer train kilometres” when compared with previous years. This has resulted in a net decrease in combined traffic levels, as well as a “considerable rise in theft and vandalism” during the lockdown periods.