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Date : 30/10/2006
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: Radebe: South African Police Service Rail Police launch


Address at the Retreat South African Police Service (SAPS) Rail Police launch by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport, Retreat Station

Our October Transport Month campaign has been a springboard for acceleration of the implementation of our Transport Programme of Action. We are particularly energised by the mandate we received from our stakeholders at the Transport Indaba; history was made with the renaming of the Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) to OR Tambo International Airport. Unroadworthy taxis reduced to scrap metals. We are all convinced that the light we are seeing at the end of the tunnel is indeed not an on-coming train but a sign of great achievements.

Indeed, a seed has been planted for better things to come. And all our endeavours are pointing to a safe, reliable, seamless and affordable transport system. As the President of South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), Mr Mthembu, captures the key moment when he said that our underlying transport principle is to ensure "a move from diagnosis to prescription."

Programme Director, this auspicious occasion forces me to dwell on our diagnosis and prescriptions for our passenger rail system. Our diagnosis points to an urgent need for an improved rail service particularly in relation to train cancellations, train delays, safety and security and overcrowding. But through our turnaround strategy for passenger rail we believe we've got the right prescription that will create a lifetime legacy for future generations.

Over the next three years we have made a commitment to upgrade more than 2 000 coaches to meet passenger demands and ensure adequate rolling stock, particularly in view of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We have an obligation to improve our infrastructure and signalling systems as part of a total overhaul. We have made an undertaking to increase our presence particularly on strategic high volume corridors such as Khayelitsha here in Cape Town, Hammaskraal in Tshwane, Moloto in Mpumalanga as well as links between Midrand and Tembisa.

This work has already begun within the context of a modal integration and mass link networks in support of our national public transport strategy. We have already started constructing a 4,5 kilometre double electrified and signalised rail extension in Khayelitsha, which was launched two weeks ago. My department, through South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) will also champion and drive the project to refurbish Cape Town station in order to transform the nature of the city for the better. High possibilities are likely for an airport rail link between Cape Town International Airport and the Cape Town central business district (CBD). If approved, this project will be integrated within the existing rail system. The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government has also mooted a strong argument for a speed train between KZN and Gauteng particularly in view of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. However a lot more work is still required to persuade us to agree on this project.

We are convinced that all these initiatives will propel passenger rail to gain its rightful place as a mass mover of our people. Our turnaround strategy will position SARCC-Metrorail as a force to be reckoned with and will also increase its market share within the public transport sector.

Our underlying assumption is to guarantee safety and security for commuters within the broader context of the public transport system and trains in particular. Commuters are subjected to barbarism in our trains on any given day being thrown out of moving trains, being robbed and murdered as well as the destruction of our rail assets. Our responsibility as government is not to watch from the sidelines. But our responsibility as captured in our turnaround strategy requires of us to collaborate with our law enforcement agencies, private security companies and community forums etc. and act in unison against thuggery and hooliganism.

Minister Nqakula, you will agree with me when I say that you are the only person who can respond to our prescription. The deployment of more than 400 rail police in Cape Town has brought down criminal activities to 30 percent and reduced fare evasion to less than five percent. A clear demonstration of a better pill in all this is the re-introduction of rail police into our rail service. As we officiate at this re-introduction today, we therefore do it against the backdrop of a success story.

Minister Nqakula, allow me to pronounce on your behalf that by 2008, the police personnel will take full control of all our security concerns in our railway stations and trains. More than 5 000 police personnel will take their rightful place in the rail environment in order to confront our security concerns. More than 410 police personnel are already deployed in the Western Cape, 100 in KZN and 250 in Gauteng on an incremental basis. Plans are afoot to introduce 200 in the Eastern Cape in the current financial year.

This initiative is in line with the Cabinet decision of 11 June 2003 to establish a Railway Police Unit to create a safe and secure environment for commuters, passengers and property in the rail environment.

My department is already providing the necessary infrastructure and technology for the rail policemen and women by establishing necessary rail contact points throughout the country. More than R80 million is being invested in this project.

As we officially launch this initiative, we also strongly condemn the practice of the burning of trains. No amount of frustration and anger could justify such behaviour and destruction of property. We are therefore confident that rail police personnel will ensure that those responsible are brought to book and are made to pay for their crimes. We also hope that this initiative will ignite the spark of confidence among commuters largely towards the rail system which will translate into increased patronage.

Lastly, as we conclude our Transport Month campaign today, I would like to take this opportunity and express my gratitude to my Director-General, Ms Mpumi Mpofu, the head of departments (HODs) and chief executive officers (CEOs) of provincial departments of transport and agencies, staff members from the whole transport family including stakeholders for their great achievement in making the October Transport Month a huge success. But most importantly I would also like to thank my colleagues, the provincial MECs of Transport as well as of the departments of safety, for their guidance and leadership during this campaign. Lessons learnt from this month will go a long way in further entrenching "transport as the heartbeat of the economy."

I thank you for your attention!

Issued by: Ministry of Transport
30 October 2006
Source: SAPA

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