The top 3 things on Mbalula’s to-do list
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has identified three key priorities for Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula in order to fix the country’s ailing transport system.
Mabalula experienced the challenges commuters face on a daily basis in Cape Town on Tuesday.
He was meant to travel by train to Langa, but due to a passenger-related incident at Nyanga Station he was forced to use a shuttle instead.
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During the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address, the minister said he wanted to deal with these problems and get (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) Prasa "back on track".
Satawu deputy general secretary Anele Kiet believes Mbalula needs to start supporting Prasa's turnaround strategy.
"The problem doesn't necessarily lie with the train but with management. So we are with what the current CEO is doing in terms of making sure that he's changing the management style within Prasa, but of course he will need support hence we are calling for the minister to give him support."
Kiet says Mbalula needs to find a solution to the ongoing truck attacks on the N3 highway in KwaZulu-Natal.
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He says the union's is concerned as the attacks are affecting an already struggling economy.
Kiet says if the government subsidises the taxi industry, in the same way as it already does for buses, taxi-related violence would decrease dramatically.
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He adds the reason for taxi drivers’ reckless behaviour on the roads is the need to cram in many passengers as possible in order to receive a salary at the end of the month.
He says the rolling out of old taxi will result in more debt for owners, which won't fix the issues within the industry.