Speech delivered by the Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, MP on the occasion of the launch of the Kwamashu to Durban Commuter Rail Service and certification of Prasa Cooporatives held at Durban Station, Prasa Regional Office
Programme Director
MEC for Transport in KwaZulu-Natal: Hon S Hlomuka
His Worship the Mayor of eThekwini Metro: Cllr M Kaunda
MMC for Transport at eThekwini: Cllr T Mvubu
All Councillors present
Acting Chairperson of the PRASA Board: Ms Macamo
Group Chief Executive Officer of PRASA, Mr Hisham Emeran
Organized Labour Union present: SATAWU and UNTU
Civil Organizations represented by the United Commuter Voices
Our Stakeholders in the Taxi and Bus Industries (SANTACO, SABOA, SANSBOK)
Our honoured guests of today: PRASA Co-operatives
Members of the Media
Ladies and gentlemen.
I must start appreciating the enourmous work that is being done by PRASA and its respective regions. I said;
- The PRASA of Yesterday, is history and foundational,
- The PRASA of Today beacon of progress, relevance and innovation; while
- The PRASA of Tomorrow is the Backbone and the Legacy of the Transport Sector.
We say BE MOVED…as we recover our major commuter rail services, BE MOVED as we modernize and accelerate passenger rail, BE MOVED as were refurbish and upgrade our stations…Yes BE MOVED to a better international rail transport experience. BE MOVED!
Ladies and gentlemen;
I stand before you today in a state of jubilance. I appreciate the opportunity to address our stakeholders at this history making, well organized public participation programme.
I must appreciate the effort of both the Department and the PRASA Management and the Board in ensuring that PRASA transition journey is helmed by true Public Service Principles of putting people
first through our commitment, dedication, discipline, innovation and fast-tracked impactful service delivery.
The social contract we have amongst our critical partners that is labour, the private sector, civil society and above all the electorate; compels us all to go an extra mile to ensure socioeconomic growth and development for the People of South Africa.
The government of the African National Congress, the ruling Party, has over the years laid down a solid foundation of co-operation and collaboration through legislation, policies and programmes across the three spheres of government by also with our critical stakeholders. With a collective objective to make a better life a lived reality for our people throughout the country.
Distinguished guests;
This morning we took a train ride from KwaMashu to Durban Station to assess the work that has been done. The KwaMashu line is one of the biggest corridors in KwaZulu Natal that was carrying over millions of passengers.
Over the years, the service was affected by theft, vandalism, and the COVID-19 lockdown in 2019. PRASA worked around the clock to restore limited service on the line in 2021, however, the April 2021 devastating floods that hit the Province of KwaZulu-Natal left severe damage on our rail infrastructure, which resulted in the suspension of services, and thus reversing the significant progress done previously.
Programme Director;
I do believe that in every dark cloud there is a silver lining. Similarly, at PRASA, although the challenges with damaged and vandalized infrastructure seemed insurmountable. PRASA grabbed the silver-lining opportunity with both hands, as it is during this period where PRASA then introduced modern trains with new Electric Motor Units (famously known as EMUs), the Blue Train – Isitimela Sabantu.
The newly modernized trains were gradually introduced at both off- peak and peak time intervals. The new trains come with high-tech technology, built in CCTV Cameras and air-conditioned cars for the comfort of the passengers, bringing a modernized, high-tech train service to the people of KwaMashu and surrounding areas following a no-objection certificate from the Rail Safety Regulator.
These electric motor units are also running on the Durban – Cato Ridge line, as well as Durban to Umbogintwini lines, off-peak. PRASA and the region are waiting for a no objection from RSR for a full commercial service on the South Coast lines - Durban to Umbongontwini and Durban to Winkelspruit.
Some of the work include repairing and recovering OHTE, substations, embankment failures due to the floods, replacing and repairing of stolen and/or vandalized equipment and stations. Work is currently underway to restore the formations that support the train tracks affected by the floods and to restore the vandalized and/or stolen signaling equipment. 10 of the 13 stations on the KwaMashu Corridor have been rehabilitated and recovered to basic functionality.
The good news is that on this very KwaMashu-To-Durban corridor, we are recording increase in passenger numbers. We move almost 71 000 passengers in this corridor. These numbers are expected to grow as work continues to recover services all the way to Umlazi on this corridor.
The recovery of the rail infrastructure and services continues in KZN with Durban to Crossmoor and the Pinetown corridor earmarked for this financial year.
Through the four major corridors mentioned above, the region is seeing a gradual increase in passenger numbers. Statistics show that since the recovery of services, over 2 million people were moved in the last financial year, and to date, the KZN region is transporting 3,8 million passengers.
Furthermore, one hundred and two (102) stations are earmarked for recovery in this region. Out of the 27 stations under reconstruction including signaling that will ensure that more trains move in this corridor.
Distinguished Stakeholders;
All the remarkable registered progress would have not been possible without the dedication and commitment from both PRASA’s Internal Team and professional contracted companies, who worked and still work around the clock repairing the rail infrastructure.
Ladies and gentlemen;
Restoring passenger rail service in the country is a key priority that will put us back on a path towards the realisation of our long-term objective of positioning passenger rail as the backbone of our public transport system. Delivering his State of the Nation Address in 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of recovering our commuter rail services. The KwaMashu-Durban corridor is amongst the integral part of this process.
At national level, in 2021, we set out to recover and restore services in 10 key high-volume corridors that were badly devastated. By December 2022, not only did we achieve our target, but we exceeded it by restoring a total of 13 corridors. To date we have recovered a total of more than 18 corridors. The latest being Leralla to Germiston line, that we launched in the past two weeks.
All this infrastructure and rolling stock refurbishment and modernization is done with the primary aim to improve efficiencies to global standards which will ensure that we offer safe, secure, affordable, and integrated public transport including world class commuter rail service.
The next step after recovery is to implement universal access for passengers with special needs at the stations. The universal access work requires extensive investment as it entails provision of functional elevators, ramps, platform adjustments (horizontal and
vertical), tactile strips, passenger zones, modifications to the ticket offices and ablution facilities, etc. to promote accessibility of the railway services.
This work will be done under the station modernization programme as the aim would be to improve commuter experience through improved structural capacity, access to the station, creation of commercial opportunities amongst the key interventions.
To safeguard the rail infrastructure, PRASA is rolling out its integrated security plan. The security strategy also included the integration of communities and creating job opportunities.
Programme Director;
While we are manufacturing new trains at Gibela in Dunnotar, Gauteng, PRASA is also refurbishing its ageing fleet through the General Overhaul programme. In June 2022, PRASA awarded a R7.5 billion contract to five companies to provide heavy maintenance and rehabilitation work for PRASA’s old fleet for the next 5 years.
To date, more than 147 Metrorail & 18 MLPS coaches were sent for General Overhaul. More than 33 of the Metrorail coaches have been completed. Through this programme, 648 jobs have been created. Of the 648, 113 are women and 199 are youth below the age of 35.
Programme Director;
I am pleased that our investment in recovering the KwaMashu- Durban Corridor is starting to pay dividends. Through the KwaMashu Line recovery, R94 million has been invested, with 234 jobs created and 24 local SMMEs appointed, young people below the age of 35 obtained employed.
It important to note that since the recovery of corridors in the region, 826 jobs have been created, 66 SMMEs appointed and R230 million invested. PRASA’s capital projects have a socio-economic impact, uplifting communities in which our projects are located, and services run.
The government of the African National Congress is working hard to ensure that we address the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequalities, hence the pressing need to always pursue projects and programme that seek to bring a better life to all citizen of our country. We have been deliberate in ensuring that 51% of the available opportunities were prioritized for the youth, as to positively reduce the non-employment issue experienced more by our young people.
We deliberately focused on contracting SMMEs, because they are important drivers critical to reduce unemployment with the primary aim to ensure that we boost economic growth, create employment and alleviate poverty by ensuring that there is redistribution of wealth, income and opportunities, and to also create a better future for every citizen.
Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen,
The emancipation of women in the country’s economic system is very critical. Through the Corridor recovery Capital Projects, PRASA ensured inclusion of women, youth and people living with disability by establishing co-operatives.
To date 11 Cooperatives have appointed in the region on a 3 year- contract valued at just over R17 million for the cleaning of our stations across the region – at 13 stations, with 42 (80%) women benefitting from this initiative. Through the Cooperatives Initiative, we will be able to create more employment opportunities at the door-step of our communities where stations’ facilities are located.
I am pleased that PRASA is assisting the women through access to supplier opportunities, training and development. The Co- operative’s initiative is firm demonstration of government’s commitment to empower women in transport sector.
In conclusion, Ladies and gentlemen;
I must commend the PRASA team under the stewardship of the GCEO Mr Emeran and the stellar leadership provided by the PRASA Board led by the Acting Chairperson uMama uNozizwe Macamo, oversighted by the department of Transport Rail Branch led by Mr Ngwako Makaepea.
Please note the hard and tireless work you have committed too to ensure the recovery of commuter rail service across the country, doesn’t go unnoticed. Going forward, as team transport we must move at a faster pace in service delivery and equally draw lessons
from experiences in the corridors we have already recovered and replicate best practices.
I thank you.
