Minister of Transport, Mr Jeff Radebe, Park Station, Johannesburg
4 October 2006
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), Mr
Mosenngwa Mofi
CEO of Spoornet, Mr Siyabonga Gama
Acting CEO of South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC)/Metrorail, Mr
Lucky Montana
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
The Railway Safety Regulator has reached yet another milestone in
positioning itself as a credible authority that ensures safety in our railways.
Our railways are an integral part of our public transport system and play a
very strategic role in moving both freight and passengers across the country
and even beyond our borders. Railway Safety has been a major source of concern
and government responded by creating the RSR to regulate safety in this
industry and rebuild confidence in our railways. It is quite fitting that this
launch takes place at the beginning of the Transport Month, when we take a
critical and incisive look at our transport system in order to move with speed
to address the gaps.
It is worthy to note that the RSR in its 2005/06 annual report made critical
observations on the state of railway safety in the country based on the railway
occurrence data gathered in the past financial year. These observations will be
further elaborated upon in a comprehensive State of Railway Safety in South
Africa report that will be published in due course.
Allow me to reflect on the RSR's conclusions in this regard. In its annual
report for 2005/2006, the RSR indicates the following:
* the state of railway safety and security in the country is not
improving
* the costs associated with incidents are dramatically increasing and heavily
impact on the cost of doing business in the country
* the risk profile of the major operators remains unacceptably high and has a
bearing on the costs associated with managing risk
* there is a general negative perception in the country about the rail sector
in relation to safety, security and operational efficiency
* the state of railway infrastructure in the country is in an unacceptably bad
state of repair as well as outdated technology.
Indeed, the reflections of the RSR are instructive and a grim reminder of
the tasks that still lie ahead of us. Of particular concern is the unacceptably
high cost associated with accidents and the high levels of safety risks to
passengers. It is on this basis that as we proceed with the Transport Month, we
will be showcasing some of the initiatives that directly respond to these
conclusions of the RSR. Improving the state of our railways is our collective
responsibility, and we must not be found wanting in its execution. In this
regard, we welcome the pressure that the RSR is exerting on everyone to improve
railway safety.
I am also pleased to note that the RSR will actively play a role in the
SARCC's capital investment programme, through conducting infrastructure audits
that will assist in informing appropriate investment in safety critical areas.
These audits will also be benchmarked against the outcomes of occurrence
investigations conducted by the RSR.
The launch of the Railway Safety Inspectorate is therefore a critical
turning point in our march towards an environment that is safe, secure and
incident-free. It should be noted that the Railway Safety Inspectorate has been
established in terms of section 32 of the Railway Safety Regulator Act (2002).
The Inspectorate is playing a central role in monitoring safety performance and
ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework laid down by the RSR. In this
regard, the Inspectorate is vested with powers to conduct inspections, safety
audits and occurrence investigations. It is pleasing to note that the
Inspectorate has started carrying out its legislative obligations since March
this year.
Today's inauguration of the Railway Safety Inspectorate must serve as a
persistent reminder of this collective obligation, and must spur all the
operators into action. They must tighten their safety management systems and
make South Africa proud by crafting a legacy of safe railway operations.
As we prepare ourselves to host the largest sporting spectacular in the
world, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we are determined to ensure that we are never
found wanting in the efficiency and safety of our transport system. The
collective activities of the RSR and the railway operators must be calculated
to achieve that objective. I am confident that we are on the right track and we
will overcome the immense challenges facing us.
May I remind all the operators that the RSR's Inspectorate is empowered by
legislation to enter any property under the control of an operator and
investigate whether provisions of the safety permit are complied with. It is
through the work of this Inspectorate that we will evaluate the work of the RSR
and ascertain whether it is effective in its enforcement of railway safety.
In conclusion, we hope that the Railway Safety Regulator's interventions
will contribute in:
* reducing accidents and costs associated with railway occurrences
* enhancing a safety management culture in railways
* through improved safety, promote rail as a preferred mode of transport.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
4 October 2006
