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Emfuleni Is Failing Major Industries and Businesses

Location: News

The Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) is exacerbating the financial strain on major industries and businesses through its failure to pay service providers and conclude service agreements with new suppliers on time. Meteronline (MOL), the company responsible for electronically taking electricity consumption readings and automatically transmitting it to the Municipality’s billing […]

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Emfuleni Municipal Manager Should Resign

Location: News

The ineptitude of the Municipal Manager of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal River, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging), April Ntuli, and his failure to properly manage this Municipality should no longer be tolerated. The time has come for him to resign. On 31 March this year, the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), on which the Freedom […]

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Firearm Fiasco in Emfuleni’s Traffic Department

Location: News

Officers of the Traffic Department of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) are embroiled in a firearm fiasco after it came to light that three service firearms are missing and more than half of the officers do not have a firearm competency certificate. This shocking revelation was made in a recent […]

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Emfuleni Spends Millions on Security While Infrastructure Continues Being Plundered

Location: News

Even though the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) spends millions on security, its infrastructure is still being plundered. The Municipality spent a whopping R12,5 million on security services in April alone, but still the municipal offices were plundered and critical infrastructure, such as substations, were stripped. This amount exceeds the budgeted […]

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Emfuleni’s Quarterly Report Demonstrates Decline

Location: News

The report for the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year once again demonstrates the decline of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging). In the report, the Municipality is obviously grasping at straws in the form of a so-called turnaround strategy, which is not feasible in practice. Instead of focusing on […]

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Political Theatrics Will Not Save Emfuleni From Its Predicament

Location: News

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) views the announcement by the Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Hassan Mako, that the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) will apply to have another R2 billion of its Eskom debt written off as political theatrics aimed at the 2026 local government elections. According to Mako, […]

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Joy Over Rand Water Agreement Will Be Short-Lived

Location: News

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has noted that the Mayor of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging), Sipho Radebe, is seemingly overjoyed by the resolution of the deadlock between the Municipality and Rand Water over water debt. In terms of the agreement, Emfuleni paid R660 million to Rand Water to […]

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Emfuleni Loses Outstanding Traffic Fine Data

Location: News

The traffic department of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) is facing total collapse after a service provider removed all its traffic control equipment and related data. As a result, the Department no longer has access to information on outstanding fines issued from 2021 until 16 July this year. The removed […]

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Contractor Cancels Emfuleni’s Financial System Due to Non-payment

Location: News

The Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) has sunk even deeper into the quagmire as the contractor BCX Solar, which manages the Municipality’s financial system, cancelled its services due to non-payment. Emfuleni paid the R3,6 million licence fee, but failed to settle the system’s maintenance fees. With the financial system down, no […]

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Emfuleni Could Be Placed Under Full Administration

Location: News

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) welcomes the report submitted by the Gauteng Legislature’s Committee for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to the Legislature on the total collapse and ongoing financial troubles of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging). The report, covering the period from 2016–2025, clearly shows that Emfuleni’s […]

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Emfuleni Warned to Pay Pension Fund Contributions

Location: News

This week, the National Treasury (NT) warned the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) to pay outstanding staff pension fund contributions within seven days to avoid further action. Emfuleni is one of 39 municipalities in the country guilty of the malpractice of failing to pay staff pension fund contributions. In Emfuleni’s case, […]

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Emfuleni Unfairly Penalises Residents With Faulty Electricity and Water Meters

Location: News

The Emfuleni Local Municipality’s (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) unfair practice of overcharging residents with faulty electricity and water meters should not be tolerated. Many consumers receiving such bills have already reported the defective meters, but they cannot be replaced due to the Municipality’s lack of stock. Some residents have been waiting a year, […]

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Rand Water Seizes Emfuleni’s Bank Account… Again

Location: News

Rand Water has, for the fourth time since 2023, seized the bank account of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging). This leaves Emfuleni with scarcely any funds to cover its salary obligations, deliver services or pay contractors and bulk suppliers. During a recent council meeting, Emfuleni approved a resolution allowing water […]

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Emfuleni Favours Defaulting Residents

Location: News

The decision by the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging), to replace the conventional and prepaid electricity meters of residents who diligently settle their electricity bills with smart meters, needs to be reconsidered. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is not opposed to the installation of smart meters, but believes that defaulters […]

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Emfuleni’s Unfunded Budget Has Far-Reaching Consequences

Location: News

On Thursday, the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging) approved its seventh unfunded draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year, which will have far-reaching consequences for residents. This unfunded budget means projected expenditure will exceed expected revenue, potentially hampering service delivery and causing further financial instability. The draft budget highlights the […]

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Vanderbijlpark Substation in Flames for the Third Time

Location: News

Around 30 000 households in Vanderbijlpark were left without power on Wednesday evening after the Town substation caught fire for the third time. With the support of local businesses, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) replaced the roof and walls of the substation in Curry Boulevard in 2018 and again in 2024. The party repeatedly […]

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Passion breeds Tswakae Styles & Design

Location: News

Passion breeds Tswakae Styles & Design

By Keneilwe Velaphi

Anna Moriti from Sebokeng in Gauteng is an example of what it means to start again after suffering the plight of unemployment. 

In 2018, Moriti was left jobless after the company that she worked for closed down. Armed with a passion for designing clothes she soldiered on.

Today, the 35-year-old owns Tswakae Styles & Design (PTY) Ltd. Her business specialises in making and designing traditional clothing. 

She said her love for design started while employed. Moriti explains that while employed, she enjoyed her craft and would sometimes find herself sleeping on the premises of the company she worked for, just to make sure that deadlines were met. 

“When the company closed, it almost destroyed my life. I had plans to buy it and make it mine. I decided that I should start my own business.” 

With an eagerness to succeed, in 2019 Moriti attended a design course at Sedibeng College and Skills Development where she obtained her design certificate. 

In 2021 she opened the doors of Tswakae Styles & Design (PTY) Ltd using her savings as start-up capital. 

"Starting a business was not easy. I had to take all my savings to start afresh, as we were struggling financially as a family.” 
In 2022, she visited the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) looking for financial assistance. 

“I requested financial assistance from the NYDA and the agency granted me R34 000. I purchased sewing machines, material, and iron, and constructed a small shack for my business.” 

Because of the financial backing from the NYDA, Moriti’s business began to flourish. 
She adds that she attracted customers that needed to sew and design clothing such as traditional garments, school uniforms, bridal gowns, and casual attire. 
“Schools, churches, and brand shops began to trust me and started purchasing various types of clothing.” 

Moriti expressed her desire to expand her business, generate more job opportunities for the community and establish a school to educate young people about design and sewing. 

For more information on Tswakae Styles & Design (PTY)Ltd visit the Facebook page: Annah Tswakae or WhatsApp: 074 432 0694.

The NYDA can be reached at www.nyda.gov.za.

*This article first appeared in Vuk’uzenzele

 

Janine
Fri, 10/25/2024 - 10:38

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Gauteng NCOP Delegation Recommends Criminal Action Against Errant Project Developers Contractors

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament
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The NCOP Gauteng delegation conducted a successful oversight visit to unfinished and abandoned human settlements, health, education, and road projects in the West Rand and Sedibeng regions on Wednesday.

The visit is part of the week-long NCOP Provincial Week Programme, held under the theme “Confronting the Challenges Facing the Timely Delivery of Viable Public Infrastructure to Communities.”

The Provincial Week Programme aims to provide permanent delegates to the NCOP and their counterparts from the Gauteng Provincial Legislature with an opportunity to conduct oversight visits to various community development structures, including incomplete road projects, housing projects and other delayed or abandoned public infrastructure projects in the province. These oversight sessions involve officials and managers from affected districts and provincial and national government departments.

Among the abandoned projects visited by the delegation yesterday was the Montrose Mega Project in Randfontein. The project started in 2017 and is expected to yield 13 792 mixed typologies upon completion.

Briefing the delegation on the challenges, interventions and way forward, the provincial Department of Human Settlements said the project had faced various challenges, such as non-performance by the developer, as he failed to resume site in January 2024. The developer also failed to disclose a liquidation order issued by the court against him in 2023 in favour of contractors. The delegation was informed that the developer failed to pay the Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), which he appointed as his service providers. The abandoned project is now facing a serious problem of vandalism of the units.

As part of the interventions, the department reported that it sought a legal opinion on the options available to act against the developer and a notice of termination was issued. The delegation was told that three criminal cases had been opened for the vandalism of the infrastructure, and some of the perpetrators had been brought to justice.

The department further reported that, as part of the way forward, they are appointing a security company to protect the remaining infrastructure and will commence negotiations with the land owner on acquiring the land.

The delegation also visited the Rus-Ter-Vaal Secondary School. The project was initiated in 2016 and set for construction in 2018. A contractor was appointed and initiated the construction process but abandoned the site without completing the project.

The delegation was told that the project remains abandoned as of August 2024. The department is set to appoint a contractor and hand over the site to the contractor by the end of September.

The MEC for Education committed to providing regular feedback to the NCOP on this delayed project and ensured that the contractors' contract would be terminated where there were unjustifiable delays.

The NCOP Gauteng delegation also conducted oversight at Kopanong Hospital in Vereeniging. Construction of the hospital started in 2021, with an original completion date of August 2022. The appointed contractor could not finish the project, and their contract was terminated.

The delegation was very concerned about the state of the Kopanong Hospital, which is in decay. The abandoned, incomplete wards were meant to accommodate emergency patients during COVID-19, but the contractor failed to finish the job.

The delegation also visited the R82 Old Johannesburg Road in Walkerville. The Initial consultant was terminated due to poor performance. A new consulting engineer was appointed on 23 August 2024. The delegation was informed that the project is scheduled to recommence the first week of October 2024. The contractor is mobilising to return to the site at the beginning of September 2024.

Some of the challenges facing the project include the encroachment of 10 households on the site—intervention to relocate the residents is being sought.

The delegation further visited the Bekkerdal Care of the Age Centre, New Simunye High School in Westonaria, and the Lethabong Mega Project in Sebokeng. The delegation applauded the Lethabong Mega Project, as it was the only site progressing well among all the visited projects.

The delegation, led by Ms Jane Mananiso, NCOP Gauteng Provincial Whip, recommended that criminal cases be opened against developers who are at fault for any of the projects' issues.

Highlighting the importance of accountability and transparency, Ms Mananiso said public representatives must ensure that every rand spent on infrastructure development translates into tangible benefits for the people. “The NCOP's oversight provides an invaluable mechanism for ensuring accountability and transparency, and I have no doubt that your engagements with us this week will help strengthen the systems that underpin effective governance,” she said.

The delegation is today, Thursday, 19 September, conducting oversight visits to projects around the Ekurhuleni and Tshwane regions. The projects include:

  • - Bakerton Library in Springs
  • - Barcelona Primary in Daveyton
  • - Semphato Junior Secondary School in Soshanguve
  • - Transoranje LSEN - Pretoria
  • - Women Living Monument in Pretoria

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Basic Education Committee Chairperson Shocked by Death of Learners

Location: News

The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa
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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, has noted with shock the death of several learners in Gauteng yesterday.

She said: “This is indeed incredibly sad such young lives, dying so tragically. They will now never reach their full potential. The youth is the future, but South Africa will now never benefit from these young people.”

Ms Maimela was reacting to media reports that three Sebokeng's Evaton Primary School learners, two of them were siblings got sick at school and were taken to a nearby health facility. They were declared dead on arrival at hospital and food poison is alleged as the cause of their death.

In a separate incident a Grade 8 learner from Tsakane Secondary School in Ekurhuleni died yesterday after she allegedly consumed rat poison. “We want to appeal to all learners to seek help if they feel overwhelmed. Schools normally have support systems in place and learners should make use of this,” said Ms Maimela.

Ms Maimela appealed to parents and care givers to be vigilant, especially during examinations periods with the nearing Grade 12 preliminary and final examinations. She called for a favourable atmosphere of study for learners at this time.

Ms Maimela also noted that the body of a Grade 10 learner was found in the storeroom late last week at the Overberg High School in Caledon, Western Cape. “This learner was sent to school in what is supposed to be a safe environment. Now her parents and loved ones will never see her thrive in life.”

She appealed to the authorities for greater safety in schools. “Furthermore, we appeal to the police for swift investigations and to ensure that they leave no stone unturned.”

The committee also noted several road accidents in recent weeks where learners lost their lives. Ms Maimela appealed to the providers of scholar transport, public transport owners to screen drivers before hiring them to ensure they are trustworthy for transporting learners. “Sadly, we are losing too many learners on our roads,” said Ms Maimela.

She added: “We want to convey our sincerest condolences to all the families, friends and school communities at large that have been affected by these tragedies.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

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City of Ekurhuleni to host next Presidential Imbizo

Location: News

City of Ekurhuleni to host next Presidential Imbizo

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to lead a Presidential District Development Model (DDM) Imbizo in Ekurhuleni in Gauteng later this month.

This is according to Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya who was briefing the media on Wednesday.

The Presidential Imbizo will be the first to be held by the seventh administration. It is scheduled for Friday, 23 August.

“The DDM was established to improve coordination and alignment between the different spheres of government. This is an important initiative to improve planning, budgeting and implementation at a local level by bringing all spheres, departments and stakeholders together, towards uplifting our communities.

“You will recall that the planned District Development Model (DDM) oversight visit during April 2024 to the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, had to be postponed due to challenges faced by the municipality at the time. The President is therefore pleased that the oversight visit to the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality will take place,” he said.

The President is expected to be accompanied by all members of the National Executive who would already be on the ground leading up to the visit.

A success story 

During the media briefing, Magwenya batted away notions that the DDM Izimbizo have not delivered – pointing out that notable successes have been recorded in municipalities like Sedibeng in Gauteng where an imbizo was held in 2022.

This after criticism about the Presidential Izimbizo came to the fore this week.

“[The] Presidential Imbizo contributed to a clinic becoming fully operational. The clinic, which was built before the COVID-19 lockdown, had become a white elephant and the community in Zone 17, Sebokeng had to travel distances for basic medical care.

“Through the Presidential imbizo in [August] 2022, an inter-governmental task team comprising of national, provincial, local government and Eskom, identified the gaps for the clinic to become operational. The big issue was that it was not connected to the grid and that there was a stand-off between the different spheres of government about costs.

“The Presidential Izimbizo unlocked the bottlenecks. Eskom and the various government departments procured the transformer and finances to connect the clinic to the grid. Today, the community is benefiting,” Magwenya highlighted.

He added that the seventh administration will engage citizens.

“This seventh administration will continue to engage citizens through the Presidential Imbizo and the second round of the Presidential Izimbizo starts later this month at the Tsakane Stadium in the Ekurhuleni Metro and many more will follow over the next five years,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Wed, 08/07/2024 - 14:41

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Greater Evaton water safe for consumption, says Rand Water

Location: News

Greater Evaton water safe for consumption, says Rand Water

Rand Water has assured residents that the contamination which affected the quality of drinking water in the Greater Evaton area has been resolved and tap water is now safe for consumption.

The water contamination affected the quality of drinking water in Palm Springs, Zone 7 Sebokeng, Beverly Hills, Sonder Water, Graceland, Lakeside Zone 3, Zone 6, Small Farms, and Evaton North and West in Emfuleni Local Municipality.

In a joint statement, Rand Water and the Emfuleni Local Municipality said an investigation into the water contamination was launched following complaints from the communities on 28 and 30 March 2024, respectively. 

The team was led by experts from the municipality and Rand Water and included engineers, scientists and operational specialists who focused their investigation on identifying the root cause of the contamination. 

The investigation revealed that the contamination was due to leaking sewerage pipes which seeped into the drinking water pipes. 

“Both the sewerage and drinking water pipes were replaced, and the drinking water pipes were disinfected to remove all traces of the contamination. Once the water pipes were flushed, drinking water in the affected areas was taken for testing and analysis at Rand Water ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. 

“On 17 April 2024, the scientists at Rand Water laboratory achieved the third consecutive microbiological results confirming the preliminary results which revealed that the water quality has been restored to the acceptable South African National Standard (SANS) 241 standards for drinking water,” Rand Water said.

SANS 241 is a drinking water specification that states the minimum requirements for potable water to be considered safe for human consumption.

Rand Water noted that during the process of fixing pipes and water testing, roaming water tankers were distributed to ensure that affected communities have access to clean water. 

These water tanker services will be withdrawn from areas in Greater Evaton. 

“Rand Water as the bulk water services provider and the ELM as the Water Services Authority wish to assure communities that both institutions continue to be committed to providing quality drinking water that complies with all the requirements of SANS 241 standards,” the entity said.

Arrest suspects commended

Meanwhile, Rand Water has commended the arrest of suspects in connection with the murder of Rand Water Executive, Teboho Joala and his personal protector, Sifiso Shange during a back-to-school event held at Zakariyya Park on 29 January 2024.

The three suspects were arrested last week and appeared at the Lenasia Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg on Monday.

The accused are facing two counts of premeditated murder and three counts of attempted murder charges.

The case was postponed to 29 April 2024 for bail application.

“Rand Water commends the swift action taken by the South African Police Service in investigating the matter and welcomes the arrest of individuals suspected of this brutal act which resulted with the loss of lives of our executive and his personal protector.

“Rand Water is still mourning the loss of Teboho Joala and Sifiso Shange and will continue to observe the proceedings and developments in this case, hoping that the perpetrators will be prosecuted successfully,” the entity said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 04/23/2024 - 11:13

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Government makes progress in recovering rail services

Location: News

Government makes progress in recovering rail services

While commuter rail services have deteriorated due to criminal syndicates over the years, government is making significant strides in restoring passenger rail services that are reliable, safe, modern and affordable.

“To date, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has restored 31 of the 40 lines nationally, with over 263 of the 463 stations that were vandalised refurbished to basic functionality,” Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said on Friday.

The Minister made these remarks after taking a trip on a train from the Nancefield to Johannesburg line, which was reopened recently.

In Gauteng, PRASA has recovered six more lines that were targeted for the 2023/24 financial year.

Trains are now running from Hercules to Belle Ombre, Pretoria to Kaalfontein, Leralla to Germiston, Germiston to Johannesburg, Germiston to Elsburg, Johannesburg to Naledi, Johannesburg to Nancefield, Johannesburg to Florida, connecting the three great municipalities of Gauteng: Pretoria, Ekurhuleni, and the City of Johannesburg - all the way to the West Rand.

“I am also pleased to tell you that since the recovery of the passenger rail services in the 2020/2021 financial year, over 70 million passenger trips have been made to date, from a low base of 7.4 million passenger trips made in the 2020/21 financial year. That is more than a tenfold increase and that makes us proud.

“Since the recovery of the Nancefield line, this service alone is making over 1 000 passenger trips per day.  Though we are not where we should be, this marks a significant improvement, and illustrates the demand for the service. It also tells the story that people are gradually choosing rail as their preferred mode of transport,” the Minister said.

PRASA anticipates that the numbers will steadily increase as more lines and stations are reopened.

“With the reopening of the Nancefield to Johannesburg railway line, we are seeing the transformative power of commuter rail services.

“Residents from Klipspruit, Mlamlakunzi, Sebokeng, Orange Farm, can now travel to industrial parks in Braamfontein, Germiston and various destinations by train. We are connecting people to places of work and economic opportunities - affordably.

“For soccer fans who enjoy watching games at the stadium, they can now travel to their favourite stadium via the Orlando station,” she said.

Chikunga said commuters have expressed that they are relieved now that the trains are back and can get to their various destinations on time, without the stress and uncertainty that came with the old PRASA train services.

“The people I have interacted with through this recovery journey appreciate the new high-tech trains, Isitimela Sabantu that we are rolling out on our corridors, proudly manufactured right at our backyard in Dunnottar, Gauteng.

“The people love the security features that come with the trains, they love the automated doors, the voice command that tells them of the next stopping stations and the air-conditioning system. More importantly, they appreciate the savings they make on travelling costs. They can now put more money back into their pockets,” the Minister said.

Chikunga said by providing affordable and efficient transportation options, government has empowered marginalised groups, improved access to opportunities, and fostered greater social and economic inclusion.

“Our people now have access to comfortable, modern trains that get them to their various destinations on time with the comfort of knowing that there is security onboard the train and on the station platforms.

“Work continues on these lines and the stations. Soon, residents from Katlehong, Springs, Midway, Roodepoort to Residentia, will be able to access these services.

“Our work now is to increase the frequency of the trains and reduce the waiting times for the next train to arrive. It is what they are asking for. The National signalling project has started in earnest,” the Minister said.

The new modern signalling system will ensure that trains run frequently and safely and this is while work continues to rehabilitate the stations.

“As national government, we made a commitment to not only empower our people but transform their lives. The investment made through our capital projects ensure that the economy continues to be the beacon of hope for many South Africans.

“Through the passenger rail capital projects, around R30 billion has been invested over the last two years to stimulate the economy, and over 5000 jobs have been created nationally just this last financial year,” the Minister said.

Another 312 jobs were created just on the rebuilding of the Nancefield line and16 local Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) appointed, boosting the local economy in these areas.

“The skills and on-job experience acquired go a long way in improving the lives of our people. The reopening of train services has also breathed in new life to the secondary/informal economy that was almost decimated when train services were suspended.

“Traders can now earn a living at our stations selling their products to commuters and visitors of various stations. We are making a positive impact on their well-being,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Fri, 04/19/2024 - 11:14

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