JOHANNESBURG - Sinister forces are behind the "deliberate acts of sabotage" to halt commuter train services at all costs irrespective of the inconvenience to communities and business, the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) said.

Sanco expressed concern at Saturday afternoon's fire at Cape Town Station in the CBD which destroyed 11 carriages and damaged station infrastructure. City of Cape Town metro fire chief Theo Layne said on Saturday that four fire engines and two water tankers attended the scene.

No injuries had been reported and the cause of the fire had not yet been established, Layne said.

”We are inclined to believe that these are deliberate acts of sabotage that are relentlessly pursued by sinister forces determined to halt train services at all costs irrespective of the inconvenience that this will have on business and commuters,” Sanco national spokesman Jabu Mahlangu said.

Police crime intelligence and other law enforcement agencies had failed to get to the bottom of the arson that had caused damage in excess of R25 million.