Cabinet must say if rail devolution has been abandoned, Hill-Lewis says
The Cape Town mayor says Capetonians deserve to hear the truth directly from the president
18 May 2023 - 12:35
by Staff Writer
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Shacks built along the closed railway line in Langa, Cape Town. File picture: SUNDAY TIMES/ESA ALEXANDER.
Has the cabinet made a U-turn on a commitment to devolve the running of commuter railways to capable metros?
That’s the question asked on Thursday by Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis after comments suggesting so were reportedly made by transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
“Mr President, your cabinet passed the white paper on national rail policy in May 2022, which commits to devolving rail to capable metros and commits to producing a rail devolution strategy in 2023,” said Hill-Lewis.
“However, your newly appointed transport minister is widely reported as saying there are no plans to devolve rail for the City of Cape Town to run in the best interests of commuters.
“Capetonians deserve to hear the truth directly from the president: is it true that your cabinet is making a U-turn on devolving rail, abandoning millions of commuters who desperately need an affordable, safe and reliable train service?” he asked.
The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) had no intention of devolving railway services, Chikunga reportedly told GroundUp during a visit to the northern line on Tuesday.
“For now, we are not devolving railway services. That is why Prasa is building railway services in the Western Cape,” she was quoted as saying by the publication.
The city has lobbied for the devolution of rail, citing its own research which suggests getting trains up and running again across the metro — after passenger rail services declined sharply due to vandalism — would sustain more than 51,000 jobs and add R11bn a year to the local economy.
Hill-Lewis said in April 2022 that finance minister Enoch Godongwana sent him an e-mail expressing support for an “essential” detailed rail feasibility study conducted by the city to lay the foundation for devolving passenger rail.
However, in January, outgoing transport minister Fikile Mbalula confirmed in a letter to the mayor that his department “has not been given a directive by the government and me to start with any form of devolution”.
Chikunga’s “anti-devolution comments” echoed the sentiments of other cabinet members in contradiction of its own approved white paper on rail policy, said Hill-Lewis.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Cabinet must say if rail devolution has been abandoned, Hill-Lewis says
The Cape Town mayor says Capetonians deserve to hear the truth directly from the president
Has the cabinet made a U-turn on a commitment to devolve the running of commuter railways to capable metros?
That’s the question asked on Thursday by Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis after comments suggesting so were reportedly made by transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
“Mr President, your cabinet passed the white paper on national rail policy in May 2022, which commits to devolving rail to capable metros and commits to producing a rail devolution strategy in 2023,” said Hill-Lewis.
“However, your newly appointed transport minister is widely reported as saying there are no plans to devolve rail for the City of Cape Town to run in the best interests of commuters.
“Capetonians deserve to hear the truth directly from the president: is it true that your cabinet is making a U-turn on devolving rail, abandoning millions of commuters who desperately need an affordable, safe and reliable train service?” he asked.
The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) had no intention of devolving railway services, Chikunga reportedly told GroundUp during a visit to the northern line on Tuesday.
“For now, we are not devolving railway services. That is why Prasa is building railway services in the Western Cape,” she was quoted as saying by the publication.
The city has lobbied for the devolution of rail, citing its own research which suggests getting trains up and running again across the metro — after passenger rail services declined sharply due to vandalism — would sustain more than 51,000 jobs and add R11bn a year to the local economy.
Hill-Lewis said in April 2022 that finance minister Enoch Godongwana sent him an e-mail expressing support for an “essential” detailed rail feasibility study conducted by the city to lay the foundation for devolving passenger rail.
However, in January, outgoing transport minister Fikile Mbalula confirmed in a letter to the mayor that his department “has not been given a directive by the government and me to start with any form of devolution”.
Chikunga’s “anti-devolution comments” echoed the sentiments of other cabinet members in contradiction of its own approved white paper on rail policy, said Hill-Lewis.
TimesLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Minister rejects Cape Town bid to run the city’s trains
Cape Town asks Cele for full policing powers
Godongwana backs Cape Town study into running city’s trains
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.