Question NW527 to the Minister of Transport
12 September 2019 - NW527
Mabhena, Mr TB to ask the Minister of Transport
(1 ) Whether it is still his department’s position to develop the Moloto Rail Corridor project; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, by what date will the first (a) track be laid and (b) train be operational; 2. (a) What number of public participation engagements has his department conducted with the Siyabuswa, KwaMhlanga, Moloto and surrounding communities in relation to the specified project, (b) what amount did his department spend on these public engagements and (c) on what date was the last public participation engagement held?
Reply:
- The Department’s position is that rapid rail provides the most feasible long term solution to address the transport challenges being experienced in the Moloto corridor. For the Department to pursue the implementation of the Moloto Rail Corridor project, funding will have to be reprioritised within Government.
(a) The construction of the rail line can only be undertaken once the detailed design of the rail line has been concluded and the required funding has been secured for construction.
(b) See (a) above.
2. (a) Seven (7) public engagements in the form of Imbizos were conducted with the Siyabuswa, KwaMhlanga, Moloto and surrounding communities. These were conducted as part of providing progress on the planned Moloto Rail Project and the overall exposure of the service delivery by Government and the Department of Transport’s public entities.
(b) The Department did not spend any amount on the hosting of the public engagements. As per the last part of the response in 2 (a), The costs of the public engagements were covered by the entities of the Department namely SANRAL, the Road Accident Fund and PRASA.
(c) The last public engagement was held on 5 June 2017.