Rail Officials Blame Government Underfunding for Poor Service

South Africa's passenger rail agency is struggling with financial burdens, and officials blame underinvestment on the federal government. Some questions now remain about whether train infrastructure will be ready to carry the crowds expected to travel throughout the country during the World Cup

The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) yesterday pinned the blame for the commuter rail parastatal's financial woes on underfunding from the Department of Transport, and on the poor performance of some of its own managers.

In an advertisement 'open letter' to the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) Manny de Freitas in Business Day yesterday, Prasa CEO Lucky Montana said a due-diligence report on Shosholoza Meyl, one of Prasa's subsidiaries, had revealed that the group required about R1,4bn a year to run this business "effectively".

South Africa: Passenger Rail Chief Blames 'Underfunding'
February 10, 2010

Commuters Seek Seat at Taxi Strike Negotiating Table

Organizations representing commuters in favor of the new bus rapid transit systems under development in South Africa have requested a seat at the negotiating table with the government and the taxi industry. They are opposed to the planned strike by workers from the National Taxi Association.

On Saturday, they elected 40 people to participate in the national joint working group set up by President Jacob Zuma.

...The organisations are the SA National Civic Organisation, the SA Commuters Organisation, the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union, the National Economic Development and Labour Council, the Gauteng Commuters Organisation, the SA Disability Alliance and Cosatu.

The group says the taxi industry should not go on strike without consulting the public.

Commuter groups enter taxi strike fray
The Star
August 24, 2009