The investigation of railway deaths in Pretoria

Abstract

This study analyses forensic pathology data on railway-related deaths in Pretoria, South Africa, over a 9-year period (2015 to 2024). A total of 174 cases were identified, of which 138 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of fatalities involved males (93%), with Black individuals comprising 96% of cases. The mean age was 35.86 years, with a peak incidence in the 30 to 40-year age group. Most deaths were classified as accidental (71%), followed by undetermined (19%), suicide (8%), and homicide (2%). The predominant cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries (polytrauma), accounting for 72.5% of cases. A general decline in fatalities was observed after 2017, with a marked reduction from 2019 coinciding with COVID-19-related movement restrictions. Although this study does not assess regulatory or operational factors, it is hoped that these findings will provide important empirical insight into the demographic and injury patterns associated with railway fatalities, which may inform future safety, legal, and policy interventions.