‘Metrorail must explain why they are negotiating fare increases with unelected, non-government bodies,’ says Carlisle.
Robin Carlisle, the Transport and Public Works MEC in the Western Cape has asked why Metrorail, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Chamber of Commerce are negotiating the future of Cape Town commuters behind closed doors, without a single elected representative of the people being present, ‘especially in light of the tough economic times.
‘It is extremely worrying to contemplate what business model and financial plan Metrorail are working to that allows them to come up with a huge price hike, and then apparently slash it in half at the behest of Cosatu and the Chamber,’ MEC Carlisle said.
The MEC’s comments come after he accused Cosatu and the Chamber of ‘selling out’ Metrorail commuters.
‘Putting aside the fact that Metrorail has negotiated without the people’s elected representatives being present, it now appears that the price hikes announced by Cosatu last week are in reality far greater than Metrorail and Cosatu are prepared to admit.’
Carlisle took a train trip from Kraaifontein to Cape Town this morning, and spoke directly to commuters to find out what they were really paying for their singles, weeklies and dailies. Price hikes up to 50% have been implemented.
‘I challenge Cosatu and the Chamber of Commerce to distance themselves from the current fare increases until Metrorail can explain the rationale behind them, how that rationale survived being slashed in half, and most importantly how the current situation on the ground reflects a situation entirely different from Metrorail and Cosatu’s official stance,’ MEC Carlisle said.
‘“Technical glitches” simply do not explain the range of fare hikes dumped on long-suffering commuters, with the collaboration of Cosatu,”’ said Carlisle.
‘I should add that we have repeatedly put it to the Minister of Transport, the Deputy Minister of Transport, the CEO of PRASA and the regional management of Metrorail that without proper access control and security on stations and the rail system as a whole, the horrendous service and loss of life and property that commuters suffer daily will continue unabated,’ said MEC Carlisle.
‘One of the other aspects of introducing proper access control will be ensuring that all passengers on Metrorail actually pay for their tickets.
‘If Metrorail were implementing proper access control, by securing stations and the rail network, there would be no need for fare hikes,’ Carlisle said.
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