Union welcomes move against Metrorail boss
THE United National Transport Union (Untu) has claimed the chaos in the rail services in the Western Cape, and the reason the Central line was suspended for more than five weeks, was due to mismanagement by Metrorail regional manager Richard Walker.
Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said Walker was on leave from Tuesday till today to attend a disciplinary matter. Scott said she was, however, unable to comment further on the matter.
The union also welcomed the decision by acting Prasa chief executive Mthuthuzeli Swartz to place Walker on special leave, pending an internal investigation.
Swartz made the announcement on Tuesday, saying the railway agency was on a mission to bring a complete turnaround in rail services.
Untu general secretary Steve Harris said the union’s demand of 20 months to have Walker removed had finally been answered.
“We have repeatedly said in the past that Walker does not have the ability to implement preventative measures to prevent chaos from erupting at stations under his command when trains are delayed.
“He also had a total disregard for his responsibility in terms of labour legislation by providing his employees with a safe working environment. Previous attempts by Prasa’s top management to remove Walker have been blocked by the acting Prasa board.
“Untu does, however, believe that the board realises that it is not allowed to interfere with daily operational requirements of the passenger rail agency, ” said Harris.
He said President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed in his State of the Nation address in Parliament that the board would no longer have a say in the procurement of contracts, or intervene in the agency’s daily operation.
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS BY PRASA’S TOP MANAGEMENT TO REMOVE WALKER HAVE BEEN BLOCKED