Parliament, Monday, 28 November 2022 – Concerns about the safety of communities living near railway lines dominated the last day of the Mpumalanga leg of the Portfolio Committee on Transport’s public hearings on the Railway Safety Bill, which were held in Emalahleni Local Municipality yesterday.
The majority of people who attended the public hearings at Klarinet Community Hall told the committee that the Bill is not clear on matters relating to the safety of people living next to railway lines. These people are exposed to the dangers posed by the movement of trains and hazardous material transported via rail.
They also told the committee that the Bill gives more powers to the Minister of Transport and inspectors, but when it comes to the safety of communities details are lacking. Participants also expressed concerns about the inconvenience and safety risks posed by the situation in Emalahleni, where a railway line crosses a road used by cars and pedestrians. They appealed for a bridge to be constructed.
The residents of Klarinet spoke about the deaths, injuries and damage to vehicles that have happened in train-related incidents. They said there was no compensation or any information about who must be held accountable for such incidents.
Young people said they hoped that the Bill, when passed into law, will open opportunities for them to participate in the railway sector. Participants also saw an opportunity to raise service delivery issues. However, the committee’s Acting Chairperson, Mr Lisa Mangcu, said all the issues that are not related to the Bill will be referred to the relevant parliamentary committees for follow-up.
The Railway Safety Bill seeks to improve safety regulations within the railway environment, and also to ensure that trains become an attractive mode of transport that contributes towards economic growth.
The committee will next week conduct public hearings on the Bill in Gauteng province’s Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipalities.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, MR LISA MANGCU.
For media enquiries or interviews with the leader of the Committee Chairperson, please contact:
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