Cape Argus reports that the United National Transport Union (UNTU) has welcomed the announcement by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) that operations on Cape Town’s busiest rail route - the central line - would be restored next week.
The service ground to a halt last month when the union refused to let its members work after a security guard was shot dead. The line was due to be opened later in January, but plans were stymied when vandalism crippled the route, leaving thousands of commuters frustrated as they had to use alternative transport for five weeks. Acting Prasa CEO Cromet Molepo said a technical team from Johannesburg would collaborate with the Cape Town team to get the line running again. “The team has been given about six days to complete the repairs. We have announced that safety and security plans are being beefed up. We’ll have armoured vehicles which will protect the area,” he indicated. UNTU spokesperson Sonja Carstens said they were still awaiting official notification from Prasa about the matter, but were ready to resume duties as long as Prasa adhered to an agreement signed on 16 January to make specific safety improvements to protect employees working on the line.
- Read this report by Okuhle Hlati in full at Cape Argus
- See too, Prasa to reopen Cape Town central line within six days, at EWN
- And also, Parly portfolio committee calls on Prasa to reopen crime-ridden Khayelitsha railway line, at Timeslive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page