This week the Transport Portfolio Committee met the PRASA (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) Board. The objective of the meeting was to get to the bottom of what the Board is doing to fix this State Owned Entity (SOE) and what they are doing to reduce the continued train crashes that are taking place almost weekly now.
 
Over the weekend, PRASA had taken the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR) to court after the RSR had revoked PRASA’s operating license. The RSR concluded that, as things stand, trains are not safe enough to operate. I had (now naively) thought that PRASA had at least a plan so that the RSR would be convinced to change their ruling.
 
It was with this attitude that I arrived to the Portfolio Committee meeting. The presentation by PRASA left me more despondent and depressed than ever before. PRASA supplied nothing new. No solutions. No new ideas.
 
The multi-party Portfolio Committee were united in their criticism of the Board. We all agree that they need to address the issues confronting us today. The Board had lots to say about the future – an old tactic so that today is not discussed. This time, the Committee would not have it! We need solutions for the problems confronting us today!  
 
The Board seemed oblivious to the fact that Metrorail passenger trips have decreased from 448 million in 2015/2016 to 370 million in 2016/2017., that passenger injuries and fatalities went up from 4.7 passengers per million to 5.4 and that rail-related crime incidents also went up from 2737 in 2015/2016 to 3591 in 2016/2017. This SOE is literally dying before our eyes!
 
The current rail system under the national government is dangerous, constantly late and not fit to solve the serious issues that face South African cities and its commuters. In 2009, Busses transported about 1,2 million people to work and today just over 1,4 million. In comparison, trains carried 2,7 million people in 2008 while trains today transport only 1,2 million people a day. In fact, PRASA lost nearly 60% of their clients in 20 years, mostly in the last five years. This, despite increasing population and millions being added to the work force.
 
All this has a direct negative impact on our economy and jobs!
 
All this is staring the PRASA board in the face yet they sit on their hands! Cities that can take over the rail function should be allowed to do so as clearly things simply aren’t working as things stand presently.
 

Issued by DA