How Gautrain was kept on track
Regulator boss dragged out of way
The Railway Safety Regulator’s chief executive was suspended following his strict approach towards Gautrain over safety permits.
The multibillion-rand rapid rail system – which connects OR Tambo Airport, Pretoria, Sandton and Johannesburg innercity – barely avoided being derailed due to disputes between the regulator’s boss Nkululeko Poya and its operators, Bombela Operating Company.
The current safety permit was only signed and issued by Poya at the 11th hour. The dispute centred around a contract between the regulator and Bombela, which was due to be signed and concluded last Thursday, Sowetan has learnt.
The contract, which was crucial to the renewal of Gautrain’s safety permit, dealt with how new technology would be introduced and how assets on Gautrain’s system, including tunnels, would be managed and maintained.
However, Poya was last Tuesday put on “precautionary suspension” by Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi who, this week, declined to provide Sowetan with reasons for the suspension.
Ishmael Mnisi, the department’s spokesman, confirmed Poya’s suspension.
The regulator’s board chairman, Dr Zethu Qunta, said: “Unfortunately, we cannot divulge that information at this stage.” Poya’s suspension was announced to staff at the regulator by Qunta on Monday.
Sowetan learnt that Poya had raised issues on the need for the regulator to conduct reviews, on among others the Gautrain system’s new railway works, asset management plan and any technological developments to avoid embarrassing incidents similar to the Prasa “tall trains” scandal.
Bombela Concession Company declined to comment and referred all questions to the Transport Department.
The current safety permit was issued with strict conditions late at night on the day of the expiry of the previous temporary permit – September 29.
The conditions included the signing of an agreement between the regulator and Bombela by October 13.
This deadline was later extended to November 30 and Poya was shown the door two days before the deadline.
Missing the deadline may have grounded the Gautrain.
The suspension of Poya comes a month after Gauteng transport MEC Ismail Vadi wrote a scathing letter asking for the regulator’s board and Maswanganyi’s intervention.
Vadi demanded in his letter that Poya’s conduct over the delays in issuing of the safety permit for the Gautrain be “investigated and appropriate action be taken”.
Poya declined to comment.