Note to Editors: Find attached soundclips in English and Afrikaans from DA Western Cape Premier Candidate, Alan Winde
The timing of President Ramaphosa’s visit and unveiling of 2 trains today is not surprising and was a political stunt that is unlikely to make any meaningful difference to alleviate the chronic failings of rail in the Western Cape.
Today I visited Mitchell’s Plain train station to outline the DA’s plan to deliver a train service that works and runs on time. The station is one of the largest in Cape Town, and should be bustling with commuters – but it is nearly empty. This Mitchells Plain station is almost abandoned, sign boards are not working and very few passengers are using trains. On my visit today only one train arrived in the morning and the next train is scheduled for late this afternoon.
The province needs at least 88 train sets to run properly, but only had 36 sets by October last year. These are not simply statistics – they translate into a real and lasting impact on commuters. Delayed and cancelled trains can cost passengers their jobs and prevent them from attending school.
Security on the trains, on platforms and outside the stations is almost non-existent. At least 32 people have been murdered in and around trains, yet there have been no working CCTV cameras since 2015. It is unacceptable that our residents who rely on this mode of transport should have to fear for their lives every time they step onto a train.
This is why nearly 250 000 who used the trains previously no longer do so – shifting the traffic burden onto our roads in buses, taxis and cars.
Already our DA governments have stepped in to assist, even though the railways are the responsibility of national government. Our governments have improved security in Area Central by contributing scrambler bikes to patrol stations, and provided high mast lighting as well as offering a standing reward of R100 000 for anyone providing a tip off that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone linked to train arson and have contributed 100 officers to the new Rail Enforcement Unit which has shown great success in tackling crime. The Western Cape Government has also introduced the Draft Western Cape Rail Transport Bill, which is currently available for public comment.
We will fight to have the management and control of rail operations placed in the hands of the province instead of the national government, starting with metro-level control. As long as the train system is controlled by national government, the Western Cape will continue to bear the brunt of ANC failures. The DA is ready to fight for our residents. We will fight for control of the trains to be placed in the hands of the people of the Western Cape, because only the DA has an action plan to deliver a train system that works and runs on time.