The United National Transport Union (UNTU) thanks President Jacob Zuma for finally giving in to the Unions repeated demand to fire the incompetent Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters.

Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says Peters is partly to blame for the potential total collapse of operational services the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is faced with.

“She did nothing to steer the company out of dire straits, was unable to prevent the further deterioration of commuter rail services across the country and did not address the war zone, operational employees working on railway lines, are faced with daily thanks to criminals and/or commuters.”

After three meetings with Peters and her special advisor, UNTU had lost its faith in her and refused to waste its time by engaging with her further.

“The Union will arrange an urgent meeting with the new Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi as soon as possible to bring him up to speed with the burning issues in Prasa and will use our expertise as the oldest Union in railway lines and as the majority Union in passenger rail and in Transnet, to assist him to find workable solutions,” says Harris.

Not much is known about Maswanganyi background, but he was a favourite for a cabinet position since 2015 when ANC members in Limpopo wished him to be appointed as the Minister of Public Service and Administration.

Issued by UNTU