News24 reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has indicated that Cape Town's problematic Central Line will be reopened in December. However, this will depend on whether the shack dwellers who have occupied parts of the railway line relocate or not.

The Central Line between Nyanga and Cape Town has been closed for about three years, after people built shacks on the railway line. The line is only partially running, between Nyanga and Maitland, because negotiations are continuing regarding the relocations. Delivering her budget vote in parliament on Wednesday, Transport Minister Sindi Chikunga indicated: "The full recovery of the Central Line in Cape Town remains our top-most priority." The minister indicated that there was cooperation between the national and the Western Cape departments of human settlement, the Housing Development Agency (HDA) and the City of Cape Town to relocate the illegal settlements on the rail reserve. Meantime, Prasa has also indicated that it was on track with its 'station restoration' programme along the Central Line. Contractors are apparently on site, and they are making good progress in rebuilding the stations to a serviceable condition.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page