EDITORIAL NOTE: This story has been updated on 06/06/2023. Our earlier attribution to a quote from former Prasa chief of human resources Ms Mmanaledi Sepuba was removed as she had left the parastatal years ago prior to the publication of the original story.
Transport Minister Sindi Chikunga says the delivery of services by the Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) on the central rail line in Cape Town is being hampered by the relocation of shack dwellers who have occupied part of the railway line.
She was part of the delegation that appeared before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
The central line, between Nyanga and Cape Town, was closed for about three years after people built shacks on the railway line. The line is only partially running, between Nyanga and Maitland, because negotiations are continuing regarding the relocation.
Chikunga says the matter has interfered with Prasa’s mandate.
“We are getting into mandates that are not Prasa mandates. Prasa mandate is to ensure railway services to the poor, however, this is now what is actually happening.”
EDITORIAL NOTE: This story has been updated on 06/06/2023. Our earlier attribution to a quote from former Prasa chief of human resources Ms Mmanaledi Sepuba was removed as she had left the parastatal years ago prior to the publication of the original story.
