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The Western Cape Provincial Parliament Standing Committee on Transport will be inviting the newly appointed Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, as well as officials in the national Transport Department to brief the Legislature on her plans for rail in the province.
In the interest of openness and cooperative governance, we hope that the new Minister, unlike her predecessors, will accept the invitation to speak to the Standing Committee.
Chikunga takes over from former Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, under whose leadership, the Department had only deteriorated. Thus, in order to turn around the South African transport industry, Minister Chikunga will need to make a greater effort to engage and include provincial stakeholders.
In the Western Cape alone, the rail network remains highly dysfunctional as trains on the Central Line and surrounding areas have stopped operating. It was regrettable to learn that Prasa had postponed their appearance at this morning's Standing Committee on Transport where they were scheduled to discuss the state of rail in the province.
MPP Derrick America says, “While we are delighted to see Mbalula leave the Department, it goes without saying that birds of the same feather flock together. Since 2012, Minister Chikunga has served twice as the Deputy Minister of Transport. We can only hope that this time around as Minister, she will be more visible, engaged and focus on matters that affect our transport industry the most such as the derailing rail system, taxi industry, bus services, freight rail and the devolution on train services.
The DA looks forward to engaging the Minister and expects she will embrace the notion of improving trains by supporting competent sub-national governments to manage rail operations within their respective regions.”
Issued by Derrick America, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Transport
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