Cape Argus reports that such has been the sheer destruction at some Western Cape railway stations it left a group of parliamentarians, tasked with the oversight of public accounts, in a state of shock.

At the weekend, members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) saw first-hand the damage wrought at the Salt River depot, Langa, Bellville and Philippi train stations. The committee was conducting its final leg of an oversight visit in the Western Cape, during which it raised strong concerns about the dilapidated Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) infrastructure and vandalism at the stations. Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said it had become clear that the decisions taken at Prasa had created a perfect storm for an imperfect outcome in the sense that the security breaches were largely to blame, and that this was as a result of the reckless implementation of a correct decision in 2019. “The committee agrees that the security contract was irregular. However, it was solved in a reckless manner,” Hlengwa said. The committee has scheduled a meeting with Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula for 22 March to share its observations, its engagements with the board and to take matters forward. Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda said Prasa was in rebuilding mode, but felt the impact that vandalism and theft of infrastructure had had on the services could not be understated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisonke Mlamla at Cape Argus

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