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Power Digital reports that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has assured the nation that his department is working around the clock to restore the services of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa).
This was indicated when Mbalula tabled his department’s budget vote in the National Assembly on Friday. Operations were disrupted when the country implemented the national lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Mbalula has blamed the lockdown for opening a way for the destruction of Prasa’s properties, which has led to a slow return of its services. “The impact of the Covid-19 restrictions exposed the vulnerability of our network, resulting in occupation of the rail reserve by people who built illegal settlements on the tracks and inside the reserve. This was further exacerbated by the wanton destruction, theft and vandalism of our infrastructure,” Mbalula noted. The Minister said the department was working round the clock to ensure that all infrastructure projects were completed on time for the full resumption of service with the deployment of new trains at the end of January 2022. Services returned to operation last year. The operations are limited to three provinces, namely Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Western Cape Commuters are only allowed to purchase single-trip tickets as a means to control overcrowding.
- Read the original of the report in the above regard by Ntsako Mashaba at Power Digital
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