To download an audio clip of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, click https://www.iono.fm/e/1418097
Parliament, Wednesday, 20 March 2024 – The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) today conducted a third follow-up oversight visit to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) Cape Town Central Line in Philippi, Stock Road, Nyanga and Khayelitsha railway corridors.
SCOPA remains cautiously optimistic that PRASA will meet its deadline of ensuring that the Cape Town Central Line corridors between Cape Town and Khayelitsha and Kapteinsklip are operational by the end of April 2024. The committee observed progress on the work done in Philippi and Nyanga train stations through Operation Bhekela.
Three weeks ago, the committee met with the Board of PRASA in Parliament and made the point clear that the recovery of the Central Line railway line will be incomplete if the Board does not pursue and hold liable the former PRASA Board members who took the decision to terminate the security contract, resulting in the vulnerability of PRASA infrastructure that is costing the state billions of rands. The committee wants the recovery of the Central Line to occur parallel to consequence management for those former Board members.
The committee reiterates that if all the signatories of the Implementation Protocol perform their responsibilities and functions there should be no challenges. SCOPA’s urgent expectation is expediting the permanent relocation of the residents who are now on Stock Road. The committee has been informed by PRASA that the application for the permanent relocation of the residents will be submitted to the City of Cape Town by Friday, 22 March 2024 for processing. The City of Cape Town has said it should take about 18 months for those to continue.
The committee will include this progress in its legacy report. The committee believes that PRASA working with the stakeholders in the Implementation Protocol can achieve their plans, provided nothing changes in their working relationship with stakeholders.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF SCOPA, MR MKHULEKO HLENGWA.
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