Hill-Lewis calls on president to announce deadline for national rail takeover plan
Hill-Lewis says the metro has a standing offer to the president to form a joint working committee to fast-track rail devolution, but it's not received a response.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis talks on Kfm 94.5 | 13 July 2023 | Photographed by Ruth Smith (@ruthsmithcreates)
CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce a clear deadline for the delayed National Devolution Strategy for rail operations.
The move would see capable metros take over passenger train services.
Hill-Lewis says the city's ongoing rail feasibility study has found efficient passenger rail will add R11 billion to the local economy each year - and save lower-income families hundreds of millions in transport costs.
He said the Cabinet's own National Rail Policy White Paper 2022 first promised the delivery of a devolution strategy by 2023.
In September 2023, the president further said it would be concluded and approved by 2024.
However, with Ramaphosa's term ending with the May 29 elections - the city has not even been consulted on a draft.
"Working trains in Cape Town will save lower income families in particular, more than R900 million rand per year and sustain more than 50,000 jobs in the city. Cape Town is ready for the job-creating economic growth that comes with working trains and families are ready for more affordable public transport," said the mayor.
Hill-Lewis says the metro has a standing offer to the president to form a joint working committee to fast-track rail devolution, but it's not received a response.
"Failure to give us this clear deadline or to devolve rail urgently will ultimately necessitate a formal intergovernmental dispute. We would much rather have the president accept our offer for a working committee, and to set a clear deadline for handing over passenger rail in Cape Town.
"South Africans also have an opportunity in the upcoming election to install a national coalition with the political will to get devolution done ASAP [as soon as possible]."