Minister slams DA’s state of emergency call

TRANSPORT Minister Blade Nzimande has slammed a call by the DA to declare a state of emergency with regard to rail transport in the Western Cape, insisting national government was “seized with work to restore Metrorail services in the province”.

“This call by the DA is dishonest, opportunistic and political manoeuvring that seeks to exploit the dire situation confronting rail services in the Cape. I rebut this political posturing in the strongest terms,” Nzimande said.

He urged the DA to deal with service delivery, including providing housing, electricity and improved social infrastructure. “This will go a long way to deal with the state of vagrancy and crimes targeted at the rail network.”

He added that the government was investing billions in reviving ailing rail infrastructure and services in the province, which has been hit hard by arsonists and armed gangs in recent months.

“Our e-signalling project, including the new Train Control and Operations Centre at Bellville, is already 60% completed and will cost R1.2 billion; our station upgrades will cost R1.6bn; depot modernisation R2.6bn and 35 new train sets will cost R3bn,” the minister said.

Nzimande said additional security measures were also being taken. These included 88 more armed guards being deployed to escort train crew members and commuters, armed tactical teams with armoured vehicles to protect Metrorail assets, a private investigations team to do forensic investigations and gather intelligence to combat cable theft and vandalism, and drone surveillance technology being deployed. |