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UNTU: Finally, a step in the right direction for PRASA

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UNTU: Finally, a step in the right direction for PRASA

UNTU: Finally, a step in the right direction for PRASA
Photo by Duane Daws

12th October 2018

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/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The United National Transport Union (UNTU) welcomes the order of judge Cassim Sardiwalla in the North Gauteng High Court today compelling the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to adhere to the safety requirements of the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR).
 
“For the very first time the Court acknowledged the importance of Prasa’s obligation to ensure that it provide a safe and reliable service for the workers who have to operate it and for the commuters who rely on trains to commute. Judge Sardiwalla described this case as a matter of national importance and UNTU can’t agree with him more,” says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.
 
UNTU also thanked Judge Sardiwalla for adding Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Transport, as the third respondent in the matter. This means that the Minister, to whom both the RSR and Prasa account, will be held accountable to the Court to ensure compliance with the order.
 
The past two days the legal teams of Prasa and the RSR has been engaged in drafting a comprehensive plan to address the RSR concerns it had when it withdrew Prasa’s safety operating permit.
 
This plan, which was made an order of court, should ensure that Prasa’s poor implementation of the manual authorisation process are being addressed. From now on the manual authorisation process will be overseen by a train control officer and a section manager.
 
According to Harris this will limit the risk of human error occurring as had been the case in all the Prasa train collisions in Gauteng the past two years.
 
“Prasa is also ordered to provide the RSR with a comprehensive integrated asset condition assessment report of all its rail infrastructure, including stations, perway and civil, level crossings, signalling, telecoms and rolling stock, by no later than 1 March 2019. This will allow all the stakeholders to get a true reflection into the state of Prasa for the very first time,” says Harris.
 
Prasa must also submit a procurement plan with timelines and milestones to the RSR by 30 October 2018 and must submit a comprehensive Safety Improvement Plan to address all safety issues by no later than 30 November 2018.
 
Harris says that Prasa is still prohibited from using its new urban commuter train without prior written approval by the RSR. Currently the RSR only allows this train to operate on the route between Pienaarspoort and Pretoria as part of a pilot project.
 
The RSR won’t allow Prasa to roll-out the new rolling stock until it is satisfied that the passenger rail operator can secure the railway lines as this train reaches its maximum speed of 120 km per hour within seconds.
 
“Prasa is compelled to provide the RSR and the Registrar of the Court with monthly written feedback report of its progress. Judge Sardiwalla will continue to manage the case and will convene a general compliance assessment conference with the parties on 19 June 2019 at 10:00.
 
“This court order at least gives the RSR some teeth. To date Prasa has simply ignored any compliance notices issues against it by the RSR in terms of the Railway Safety Regulators Act. If Prasa ignores the RSR in future, the state-owned enterprise (SOE) will be in contempt of court,” says Harris.
 
UNTU will monitor the implementation and will continue to keep an updated timeline of all safety related incidents occurring in Prasa. Harris says the Union will put its intended Court application on hold to see how the order of Judge Sardiwalla unfolds.
 

Issued by The United National Transport Union

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