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The United National Transport Union (UNTU) does not believe, the newly appointed Board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), will be able to save the passenger rail service with its deficit of R2,3 billion from a total collapse.

“It is completely senseless to appoint a new Board to act until the end of July, the date on which the old Prasa Board’s term would have come to an end. No newly appointed Board member will have the guts or the insight in these circumstances to act in the best interest of Prasa’s employees and of commuters”, says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.

According to Harris it is clear that Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters, does not have any understanding of the enormity of the crisis on her hands or the consequences to the broader South African public if Prasa is to collapse.

“We are on a knife’s edge. There is no room for mistakes. But unfortunately, the Minister thinks she can continue experimenting with trying out new Board members and not showing true leadership.

“UNTU demanded months ago that Prasa be placed under administration by the courts. The Minister did not listen. UNTU and its affiliated Federation Fedusa, pleaded with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in December last year to intervene. His office promised he will, as soon as he can spare a few minutes out of his busy schedule.

“But now the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that Prasa finds itself in the same situation as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Unfortunately, Prasa does not have the privilege of having Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to take control of the crisis,” says Harris.

UNTU repeats that the Union, the majority Union in Prasa, has lost all faith in the Minister. “We need leadership today. Prasa has no time to waste,” says Harris.

Issued by UNTU