Rustenburg – Transport Deputy Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga says South Africans must take all measures to ensure their own safety around railways.
The Deputy Minister on Thursday visited Boshoek level crossing in Rustenburg in the North West to interact with the public. Along with other officials from the Transport Department, she handed out pamphlets to motorists from the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR).
The outreach is part of National Imbizo Focus Week, which gives government leaders a chance to personally engage with citizens.
“The regulations in South Africa are that when approaching a level crossing, you have to stop and check if there’s an oncoming train,” Deputy Minister Chikunga said.
The department is running a pilot study at Boshoek level crossing in Rustenburg, which allows motorists and pedestrians to pass the railway line when the traffic light is green.
The Deputy Minister also met with the local community at Bongwakgogo Primary School. She said government is investing in train stations and the network of rails to ensure that they are modern and train signals work well.
The RSR says the greatest number of rail occurrences result from the close proximity of residential communities adjacent and within the railway reserve.
“I would also like to ask you not to build homes near the railway lines as it is not safe for children and cattle,” said Deputy Minister Chikunga.
Informal communities that are adjacent to a railway reserve are particularly a high risk issue for the RSR. The RSR says the management of this risk requires a multi-disciplinary approach involving national, provincial and local organisations.
To ensure trains run as they should, Deputy Minister Chikunga appealed to the community not to steal cables from the rail network.
She said government is doing its best to ensure that train stations are clean and safe.
In January, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters welcomed a batch of diesel locomotives in Cape Town. The rollout of the locos is expected to contribute to the rail operator’s plan of modernising the country’s rail infrastructure, including rolling stock, signal upgrade, infrastructure rehabilitation, station modernisation and new locomotives for long distance passenger services.
Deputy Minister Chikunga advised learners who do well in maths and science to apply at state owned entities for bursaries as government needs people with skills in these subjects. – SAnews.gov.za
