MINISTER ROBIN CARLISLE - METRORAIL'S REGIONAL MANAGER IS WRONG ABOUT FARE INCREASE BEING JUSTIFIED

Robin Carlisle, the Minister of Transport and Public Works has said Metrorail Western Cape Regional Manager Mthura Swartz 'is incorrect when he states that the shocking planned increase of 27% in rail fares is justified because Metrorail fares had not been increased in 9 years.

'The facts are the Metrorail fares were increased as follows:

2003 - 6.3%

2010 - 33%

2012 - 27%

'Thus the increase over the last two years will amount to 69%, considerably higher than the Eskom increases for the same period,' Minister Carlisle said.

'These increases have coincided with a rapid deterioration in Metrorail`s already dismal performance.

'The Province calls on Metrorail to think again and reduce the increase to less than 10%, and not introduce the increase before 1 May 2012,' said Minister Carlisle. 

'I also ask that Tony Ehrenreich and Cosatu can any idea of a strike. This is foolishness that will achieve nothing other than mayhem in our streets and the looting of the stall holders in the CBD.

'It is in fact the above inflation wage increases demanded by Cosatu's affiliated unions in the rail sector that have driven Metrorail's wage costs to over 70% of the total, an unheard of figure anywhere else in the world,' Minister Carlisle said.

Statement issued by Robin Carlisle, Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, March 26 2012

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