Train derailment: DA requests investigation into PRASA
20 August 2015
The DA will today write to Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Dikeledi Magadzi, to request that she summon the board of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) to explain why PRASA is operating trains without the requisite safety permits.
The DA will also be writing to the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, to call on her department to launch a full-scale investigation into the train derailment, and to provide Parliament with a full report on the matter.
It has already emerged that the new Afro 4000 long-distance train, which derailed in the Northern Cape this week, was not given proper clearance by the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR).
The regulator, in fact, only granted “test” clearance certificates to the trains, whereas, in order to carry passengers, they should have “operational” certificates. An operational certificate is only granted when the RSR is completely convinced that the locomotive is safe.