CAPE TOWN - As work is continuing to repair the rail system in the Western Cape, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on Thursday welcomed the addition of military veterans to security personnel after graduating from training.
Mbalulu also reminded the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) of their commitment to bring trains back on the Northern Line this month and said a target of July had also been sent for the removal and relocation of more than 2 000 families who had built shacks along the Central Line Corridor.
He was speaking during his visit to the Southern Line on Thursday, where he was assessing work done and the new Electric Motor Units that now also operate at peak times.
“After months of focused work, we are pleased that the Railway Safety Regulator has finally granted Prasa the green light to deploy the new trains during peak hours, which service commenced on February 28.
“The Western Cape currently has a total of 12 new trains, with nine of these ready for deployment. The remaining three trains are currently being serviced and getting ready for deployment,” he said.
Mbalula said the rail was also in a mess due to lack of security and management in Prasa.
“I am expecting a report from Prasa in the near future about the 3 000 ghost workers that were identified. We are implementing the issue of lifestyle audit, we are cleaning. This will also look into how people are appointed in positions. The process is ongoing because there has been a lot of corruption in the company, so we are also rebuilding,” he said.
In January the Cape Times reported that Metrorail employees had lifted the lid on how a senior Prasa board member allegedly meddled in the appointment of Metrorial’s Western Cape regional human resources senior manager Mark Horne, whom they claimed did not meet the minimum requirements, including a possession of the relevant degree.
Asked whether Horne had both the matric and the relevant qualification for the human resources senior position, Prasa board chairperson Leonard Ramatlakane said he was not involved in the appointment process personally.
“However, I think they would have looked at all the things that are required. In terms of Prasa policy, the employment of personnel is driven by the human resources. The posts are advertised, CVs are received and candidates get shortlisted.
“Qualifications and job experience, which is the length of period a person has been in the entity are important.
“The number of years working in the entity counts in your favour. It may be that in terms of the school formal desk other candidates are higher than him but in terms of when you look at everything, then that person qualifies.”
Cape Times