Rail Devolution: City renews call to Minister Mbalula to form joint Rail Working Committee | Rail Devolution: City renews call to Minister Mbalula to form joint Rail Working Committee | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Cape%20Town%20Competitive%20Advantage%20Factors%20Headers.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>Statement by Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis<br></p> | <p></p><span><p>Following the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula's positive remarks that the City of Cape Town is leading the way in the devolution of passenger rail in South Africa, I have invited the Minister to form a working group with my city colleagues so we can move without delay in determining how best we can devolve rail in Cape Town.</p><p>I have written to the Minister of Transport again to formally invite him to meet with me and the City team, and to assemble a Working Committee on the devolution of urban rail functions.<br></p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/rail%20revolution1.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:948px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>The Minister made these remarks in a question and answer session in the National Assembly last week once again confirming that the national government agrees and is committed to devolving the management of urban rail to the City of Cape Town. However, to get the trains rolling again, we now need more action from the Minister.</p><p>The City of Cape Town is currently busy with its feasibility study into the devolution and assignment of the urban rail function to the metro. To ensure the success of the study, it is critically important that necessary financial and technical information associated with operating the current tail system in Cape Town is provided by PRASA and the Department of Transport. </p><p>The scope of the Working Committee — in conjunction with the City's rail feasibility study — will ensure close cooperation between the national and city governments to ensure the success of rail devolution in South Africa. It would also enable the two governments to work together to improve rail services in Cape Town, even before devolution occurs.<br></p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/rail%20revolution2.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:948px;" /> </figure></span> <p>I remain committed to a cooperative approach to working together with the national government to create a reliable, safe, and affordable rail network in Cape Town, boost the economies of Cape Town and South Africa, and lay the tracks for rail devolution across South Africa. </p><p> </p><p><br><strong>End </strong></p><p><br></p> | 2022-10-03T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#912c22b3-646d-4a69-943b-1c53d92e293a;L0|#0912c22b3-646d-4a69-943b-1c53d92e293a|Railway station upgrade;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#762de267-90ad-4660-8493-5085a227187c;L0|#0762de267-90ad-4660-8493-5085a227187c|Transport;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GPP|#849c71d3-ed9d-4ce2-89f6-03e9c6f179ef;GPP|#ed82ebba-eb32-4b9a-99c9-da3e081869a6;GP0|#90b49a62-96e2-436a-9c68-187c9ab33534;L0|#090b49a62-96e2-436a-9c68-187c9ab33534|Mayor;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |