W Cape ANC wants government on board in helping Metrorail, passengers

THE ANC in the Western Cape has called on national government to deal with security problems which led to Metrorail suspending its Central Line indefinitely, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

Western Cape ANC acting chairperson Khaya Magaxa said: “We need to put pressure on the national government to put more money and improve the quality of Metrorail services.

“They must employ security companies to patrol and protect those using these services against thieves.”

No trains have been operating on the Chris Hani-Kapteinsklip and Bishop Lavis lines since Metrorail suspended its services.

The agency said continuous vandalism, cable theft and the continuous destruction of infrastructurebrought the trains to a halt.

Magaxa called on Metrorail to do everything it could to ensure it provided high quality services and safer conditions.

“This all happens because there isn’t enough security to protect the railway line. It is not only the theft, but also fatalities that are happening due to people crossing the rail line every day.”

Metrorail said in the Western Cape it spent R60 million annually on repairs and maintenance and R12m a month on security issues, including guards.

Magaxa said the ANC hadpreviously engaged with Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) to raise their concerns with regards to the vandalism and theft on trains.

He said they were assured by Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi that measures would be put in place to improve service.

The City’s Transport and Urban Development Authority (TDA) has approached national government for the necessary approvals and funding to take over commuter rail in an “incremental and structural manner”.

However, the ANC vowed to fight tooth and nail to ensure the city did not take over Metrorail.

Magaxa argued that the city was battling to manage Golden Arrow buses, responsible for transporting commuters across the city.

“Golden Arrow is collapsing in front of them, they’re also responsible for subsiding Golden Arrow and MyCiTi.

“The MyCiTi (BRT) that was supposed to alleviate pressure from Golden Arrow only goes to certain elite areas and its fares are too high,” said Magaxa.

He said if the city took over Metrorail, it would alienate the poor and increase railway fares.

MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith said they were working closely with Metrorail to use the city’s policing to improve security of the trains.

“We have reached out to Prasa and said the security on the trains is a major detractor for the ability of the train to run properly for commuter safety.

“We believe that we have a solution in terms of our programme which will take the current funding on security and use it for law enforcement to work for the train,” said Smith.

He said negotiations were under way to enable the city to roll out policing services on the trains and a metro theft unit which would play a supporting role by dealing with metro theft issues.