ATC200827: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport on its Oversight visit to Assess the State of Readiness of the Various Modes of Transport and their Attendant Facilities in line with the Implementation of Level3 Regulations of the Covid-19 Lockdown, dated 25 August 2020

Transport

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT ON ITS OVERSIGHT VISIT TO ASSESS THE STATE OF READINESS OF THE VARIOUS MODES OF TRANSPORT AND THEIR ATTENDANT FACILITIES IN LINE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LEVEL3 REGULATIONS OF THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN, DATED 25 AUGUST 2020

 

The Portfolio Committee on Transport (the Committee), having undertaken an oversight visit on 19 and 26 June and 1 July 2020,reports as follows:

 

1. Introduction

South Africa confirmed its first coronavirus infection on 6 March 2020. President Ramaphosa subsequently announced a national state of disaster on 15 March 2020 to address the threat of Covid-19.A nationwide (what would be deemed as level 5) lockdown was announced from 26 March to 16 April 2020.  The country went to level 3 of the lockdown from 1 June 2020.

 

The Department of Transport briefed the Committee on 10 June 2020 on its state of readiness to implement level 3 of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations.The briefing received by the Department on its state of preparation in the transportation sector for the lowering in lockdown levels had unfortunately been contradicted by various reports received by members from the public. The Committee decided that those concerns had to be addressed and could only be done through on-site oversight by a delegation of members.

 

The Committee (through a split-delegation) conducted oversight visits in Gauteng, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape on 19 and 26 June and 1 July 2020 to ascertain the state of readiness of the various modes of transport (public, rail, aviation and maritime) and their attendant facilities in line with the implementation of level 3 regulations. The oversight would also seek to determine whether the information supplied by the Department on their assistance to the public transport modes to prepare for the level 3 operational requirements were accurate as well as whether the enforcement of the regulations in order for operations to continue under level 3 was being done.

 

Members of the Committee whoattended the oversight visit were Mr M Zwane (Chairperson: ANC), Mr L Mangcu (ANC), Mr Yabo (ANC), Ms M Ramadwa (ANC), Mr L McDonald (ANC), Mr C Hunsinger (DA), Mr T Mabhena (DA), Mr K Sithole (IFP), Mr N Paulsen (EFF: co-opted member) and Mr P Mey (FF Plus).

This report provides an overview of the observations and recommendations made by members during the oversight visits.

 

1. COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS

 

2.1        VISITS TO TAXI AND BUS RANKS

 

Members visited major taxi ranks and bus terminiin Johannesburg and Cape Town to assess their readiness and the general state of operations and compliance at these taxi ranks and termini in the midst of level 3 of the Covid-19 lockdown.Although the general consensus is that public transport users to a great extent are responsible for their own personal hygiene and safety with the compulsory regulatory requirement for persons to wear masks when they venture into public spaces, government owned public transport facilities must be sanitised and provide facilities that promote the washing of hands where possible. On various occasions the Department indicated that assistance had been provided to the taxi industry for the sanitation of vehicles as well as the provision of masks to assist with the prevention of the spread of Covid-19.

 

Government owned public transport facilities such as some of the taxi ranks (often shared responsibility and expenditure on these facilities from both Provincial and Municipal Transport Departments) and bus termini would have to rely on the adjusted budget provisions in order to sanitise these facilities. The Bus Rapid Transit systems of Rea Vaya and MyCiTi would have to rely on provisions from the Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG) and the relevant municipalities of the City of Johannesburg and the City of Cape Town to sanitise their facilities as well as provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to their staff.

 

Members visited the following taxi ranks and bus termini: Germiston Station taxi rank, Baragwanath taxi rank, Bree Street taxi rank,MTN taxi rank, Khayelitsha Site C and Nyanga Terminus, Bellville Taxi Rank and Bus Terminus, Park Station East Rea Vaya station and MyCiTi Civic Centre bus station.

 

2.1.1     Germiston Station Taxi Rank

The Germiston Station Taxi Rank is located in Germiston within the jurisdiction of the City of Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality.

 

Infrastructure

• There were no functional toilets with running water, toilets were broken and leaking and were causing a severe health hazard.  There were no facilities to wash hands. Commuters were relieving themselves in the open spaces which causes an unbearable stench and health hazard in the midst of the pandemic.
• The sanitizers that were procured by the taxi industry themselves often ran out.
• There were no refuse bins. The facilities were filthy which posed a huge and real health hazard to both commuters and drivers.
• Small water tanks were supplied, but they were never filled with water, and as such were sitting gathering in the office.

 

Risk management

• From engagements with taxi drivers, members were informed that no masks were ever supplied to taxi drivers by the Department of Transport. There was no evidence of any form of support from government as it relates to the provision of masks, water and sanitizers.
• Scientology Volunteer Ministers were fumigating taxi ranks free of charge on a daily basis without arrangements and protocols agreement with government departments.
• No social distancing was observed. There were boundary lines, but it was not being enforced orobserved by passengers.
• The Greater Germiston Taxi Association (GGTA) on their own initiative marked pavements where passengers queued to maintain physical distance. The municipality later came and super imposed another physical distancing painted markings.

 

2.1.2     Baragwanath Taxi Rank

Baragwanath Taxi Rank is located in Diepkloof, Soweto within the jurisdiction of the City of Johannesburg Metro Municipality.

 

Infrastructure

• There was no drainage for water and the water tanks taps were not suitable for channelling reasonable amounts of water for washing of hands.
• The Taxi tank has not been cleaned since the commencement of the lockdown and it was visibly dirty.

 

Risk Management

• A sanitation booth was only put up for one day on the 11th of May 2020 as a public relations exercise in anticipation of the visit by the Minister of Transport, Gauteng MEC responsible for Transport and City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor. Upon enquiring about a sanitizer booth which was demonstrated during a televised visit by the Minister, the Committee were informed that it was only brought for the Minister’ visit.
• The Committee did not observe any social distancing. The boundary lines were not enforced orobserved.
• The Committee was informed by the taxi industry members present at the visit that no masks or PPEs were ever issued to taxi drivers from the Department of Transport.Water for washing of hands were found to have been provided by the relevant municipal and Provincial Departments.
• During the visit it was observed that there was evidence of passengers being sanitized when boarding the taxis and the loading capacity was being adhered to.Industry members informed members that no sanitizers were ever issued to taxi ranks for commuters by the Department of Transport.

 

2.1.3     Bree Street Taxi Rank

 

Bree Street Taxi Rank (or Bree Taxi Rank) is located in central Johannesburg under the jurisdiction of the City of Johannesburg Metro Municipality.

 

Infrastructure

• The taxi rank was deep cleaned and fumigated by the City of Johannesburg only once towards the end of March 2020. Members were informed that there was no regular cleaning of the facility and as such it is filthy and negates any attempts towards improved hygiene of commuters.
• Toilets were filthy and leaking and there were no facilities to wash hands. Ablution facilities were not adequate as with all the others taxi ranks.
• The condition of the building was very unsafe as it had gaping cracks showing a threat to the structural integrity of the building.

 

Risk management

• Two small water tanks were supplied supposedly with a chemical agent in the water which serves as a disinfectant.
• There was no social distancing. Boundary lines were not enforced orobserved.
• Members were informed by the industry that no masks were ever issued to taxi drivers by the Department of Transport.They were further informed that no sanitizers were ever issued to taxi ranks for use by commuters from the Department of Transport
• The rank was deep cleaned by JPC during transition from level 5 lockdown to level 4. Beyond that there was no reported assistance by any sphere of government with the cleaning of the facility of the provision of sanitizers and masks.
• There were no marks to enforce physical distance and physical distancing was not observed to be adhered to during the visit.

 

 

2.1.4     MTN (Noord) taxi rank

 

MTN (Noord) Taxi Rank is located in central Johannesburg under the jurisdiction of the City of Johannesburg Metro Municipality.

 

Infrastructure

• The taxi rank wasgenerally filthy and not cleaned. This facility was the worst of the ranks visited by members and was congested. The facility had three floors where taxis park as they await their turn to load. The lower level of the rank was a den for criminal activity, besides the unhygienic conditions
• Ablution facilities were not adequate and were unhygienic.There was a service provider appointed to refurbish the toilets, but they did not finish the job, as such there were leaks everywhere, and the stench from the ablution facilities were unbearable.
• Two small water tanks were supplied supposedly with a chemical agent in the water to serve as a disinfectant.

 

Risk management

• The industry members informed members that no masks were ever issued to taxi drivers by the Department of Transport and no sanitizers were issued to taxi ranks for use by commuters.
• No social distancing wasenforced although there were boundary lines. Taxis were loading at 100 % capacity.
• There was a water tank for hand washing standing close to the street.

 

2.1.5     Rea Vaya Bus Station

Members visited the Rea Vaya Bus Station at Park Station under the jurisdiction of the City of Johannesburg Metro Municipality.

 

 

Infrastructure

• Public display notices were dysfunctional 
• The automated doors of the station were dysfunctional and did not synchronize with the buses.

 

Risk management

• There was enough signage informing passengers about Covid-19.
• There were physical distance markings at the station inside and outside of the station. There was sanitization of passengers from the street entrance,but not from those alighting from another bus to catch the nextbus.
• Passengers are waiting for a very long time with no information as to the reasons for the delay or when the next bus would be arriving

 

2.1.6     Khayelitsha Site C and Nyanga Terminus

Khayelitsha Site C is situated under the jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town Metro Municipality and more specifically is situated next to the N2 highway leading into Somerset-Westand the R300 towards Mitchells Plain. Since the majority of residents work outside of Khayelitsha, most walk to the nearest taxi rank from where they commute to/back from work.

Infrastructure

• The area was clean with visible bins and refuse cleaning being done. Lighting was adequate and in working condition.Surfaces were paved and tarred with adequate standing room.
• Areas were available for informal trading.
• Access was attained through walking. Most commuters arrived at the terminus by walking.
• Signboards indicated major routes and vehicle movement was controlled by curbs and sectioned off trip directions.
• Limited underroof space exists for commuters to exercise social distancing while waiting for a taxi.
• There was a potential roof failure in the future as grass was growing on the roof of the Bus terminus and the area was littered with illegal posters.
• Ablution facilities were not adequate with insufficient refuse bins.

 

Risk management

• The majority of commuters did wear masks on arrival at the taxi terminus and masks were for also for sale at vendors.
• Sanitisers were visibly used by taxi operators on hands of passengers enteringtaxis. Social distancing was controlled by rank managers with some areas marked on the floor. Some signboards interfere with floor markings which was supposed to manage social distancing.
• Vendors were selling goods on the street with goods and stalls which they bring and set up themselves. Some informal traders were sitting in the social distance markings. Food vendors were selling food without PPE.
• Golden Arrow bus drivers were not wearing PPE, and werereluctant to put them on when asked to, indicating that they were not wearing them at all.
• In many instances taxis and buses where loaded over the regulated 70% loading capacity.

• There was no visible law enforcement and a general sense of lawlessness.At Nyanga Terminus there wereunroadworthy, scrapped and abandoned vehicles which posed fire and safety risks to commuters and pedestrians.

 

 

2.1.7     Bellville Taxi Rank and Bus Terminus

Infrastructure

• The area was clean with visible bins and refuse cleaning being done.Adequate lighting is in working condition
• Areas were available for informal trading.
• Access to the rank and the terminus was attained through walking.Most commuters arrived at the terminus by walking.
• There was limited underroof space for commuters to exercise social distancing while waiting for taxis.

 

Risk management

• While many commuters were without masks, the majority of commuters wore masks on arrival at the taxi terminus. Masks were for sale at vendors
• Sanitisers were visibly used by taxi operators on hands of entering passengers into taxis. Social distancing was controlled by rank managers with some areas marked on the floor.Some signboards interfere with floor markings which is supposed to manage social distancing.
• Vendors were selling goods on the street with stalls which they bring and set up themselves. Vendors were sitting in walkways and did not have PPE.
• Some of the taxis did not adhere to the 70% loading capacity. During the walkabout an unlicensed taxi was spotted and the metro police were called to assist. The vehicle had no registration or taxi operations disk and the driver was unlicensed.
• Both the taxi rank and bus terminus had inadequate law enforcement.

 

2.1.8     Cape Town Station Deck and Bus Terminus

 

Infrastructure

• The entry and exit point to the Station deck was congested. A deserted building of PRASA at the entrance was used by homeless people and drug addicts. The station deck was in serious need of maintenance and homeless people have moved in on the roof and open spaces on top of the station.
• Some of the informal sector tenants renting from PRASA were not sure whether their leaseshad expired.The building had broken windows and other visible maintenance issues.

 

 

 

Risk management

• The Taxi rank was overcrowded. Taxis did not adhere to the 70% loading capacity and there was a noticeable lack of PPE.
• At the bus terminus taxis, without operating permits, were loading passengers. There was no visible law enforcement at the bus terminus.

 

2.1.9     MyCiTi Civic Centre Bus Station

 

Members visited the MyCiTi Civic Centre Bus Station in the Cape Town City Centre.

 

There were good Covid-19 protocols in place in terms of adherence to loading capacity of buses, sanitizing and social distancing.

 

1. VISIT TO CAPE TOWN, OR TAMBO AND PORT ELIZABETH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

Members visited Cape Town International, OR Tambo International and Port Elizabeth International Airports. Limited flights have commenced from the Cape Town and OR Tambo airports since the start of level 3 of the lockdown.Since 26 March 2020, no flights took place and the airports came to a complete standstill. There were no flights from Port Elizabeth International Airport at the time of the visit.

 

1. Cape Town International Airport

Risk management

• The Airport was well equipped and had extensive Covid-19 protocols in place. There was some queuing required, with some elderly passengers standing in long queues to enter the Airport.
• Social distancing started outside with marked pointers on the floor. Temperature checks were done individually upon entering the building from limited access doors. Sanitising fluid was used at entrances.No body searching was done as the alarm/step back and clear yourself practise was used.
• Information boards were clearly displayed and pamphlets were available on counters and check-in points.Signs explaining the protocols on the Airport was only in English and not visible everywhere.Additional check in and procedures added 40 minutes to the normal walkthrough.
• Although purchasing of food was allowed there was insufficient facilities for social distancing when consuming the food.

 

3.2        Visit to OR Tambo International Airport 

Risk Management

• The Covid-19 protocols were visible and implemented. Access to parking wasstrictly controlled and only available to passengers, and for the dropping off and picking up of passengers.
• Access to the terminal building was restricted to ticketed passengers who had to complete health questionnaires and undergo temperature checks.
• Airlink staff, who were part of the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA), host team demonstrated the process of checking in up to boarding to demonstrate the measures that had been put the place to ensure that passengers complied to the protocols.

 

1. Visit to Port Elizabeth International Airport

There were no flights from Port Elizabeth International Airport at the time of the visit, but the airport was ready to implement Covid-19 protocols.

 

1. VISITS TO PASSENGER RAIL AGENCY OF SOUTH AFRICA (PRASA) TRAIN STATIONS

Members visited Park Station in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Cape Town Station in the Cape Town Central Business District and the Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage Stations to view theCovid-19 protocols in place at PRASAfacilities.The oversight visit toPRASAon 1 July coincided with the commencement of limited Metrorail services on the Pienaarspoort line in Tshwane, the Simonstown line in Cape Town and the Port Elizabeth to Uitenhage line in the Eastern Cape.

 

1. Visit to Park Station (Braamfontein)

Infrastructure

• Access to platforms was only by physical stairway and there were no facilities for disabled persons or the elderly. 
• There was no security around the station. The Committee was informed that the tender for security was closing on the same day and would be in place by 01 July 2020.PRASAcomplained about vandalism of their assets and infrastructure, yet there is no security in place and/or SAPS railway police.

 

Risk management

• The PRASA Umjantshi House Head Office had little or close to no signs indicating or raising awareness about Covid-19.
• There was visible physical distancing at the station, although very limited at the ticket sales entrance.There were no self-sanitizer stations within the station especially for those people waiting for long distance busses. PRASA allocated staff at the station entrances who sanitized patrons who walked through the station. There were no visible ablution facilities which patrons could use to wash hands regularly as recommended by Covid-19 protocols.
• There were intermittent announcements about Covid-19 protocols,but it was only in English and inaudible. 

 

1. Pienaarspoort Station Line

Infrastructure

• There was no fencing along the track and stations are porous with no security at all.
• Passengers waiting at Pienaarspoort station have no protection from adverse weather conditions. 
• There was no security on trains to ensure safety of passengers and PRASAassets.

 

Risk management

• Trains were two hours delayed with no information to passengers. 
• Tickets were sold on a single ticket basis which costs more for the commuter who did not always have cash in hand.  There were no trains schedules or timetables to assist passengers to plan their travel time and no onboard announcements to keep passengers informed of delays or any eventuality. 
• Passengers were sanitized at time of entering the train and there was one person on board sanitizing handles, but no evidence that each coach had the same approach.

 

4.3        Southern Line (Cape Town)

 

Infrastructure

• The Cape Town station building had a visible roof leak onto passengers, creating an unsafe place to walk or work.
• There were social distancing markers. Some Metrorail staffdid not have entity PPE and were wearing medical face masks.

 

Members also visited the Metrorail Netreg and Langa Stations. The entry at Netreg station was used by the local communities as a refuse dump. The station building was completely stripped, parts of the train tracks were removed and stolen and most of the expensive overhead power lines were stripped and stolen. The platform paving was removed and some buildings were slowly being stripped of bricks.

 

At Langa station,shacks were erected on the PRASA and Transnet portions of the line, infringing on the rail reserve and servitudes and making train movements impossible without the loss of life. The boundary fences were either broken or non-existent and there was a clear lack of security measures.

 

 

1. Port Elizabeth to Uitenhage (Eastern Cape)

 

Risk management

• The Port-Elizabeth to Uitenhage train stopped at 4 stations as PRASA was doing trial runs before they could implement stops at all 8 stations.
• Red tape was placed on the seats as an indication where the passengers could be seated to enforce the social distance rule.
• There were no sanitizing facilities.
•  The official selling tickets sat on a bench in the station wearing a moonbag.

 

Infrastructure

• The railway stations were filthy and dilapidated. There was no ticket office.
• The coaches were in a very poor condition and had to be renovated or replaced.

 

1. VISIT TO THE PORTS

 

5.1        Cape Town

The Committee was given an overview of Covid-19 challenges at the Port and plans to alleviate the container backlog. Members were informed of at least 6 Covid-19 related deaths of port staff. The Port had a problem with lack of enforcement as truck drivers knew that port officials had no Peace Officer rights. 96 %of 9 million containers were transported by road. The harbour container handling has caught up with the backlog of containers at the time of the visit and there was only one ship waiting to enter the Harbour.

 

5.2        Port Elizabeth

The container backlog at the Cape Town harbour was putting operations under pressure at the Port Elizabeth port. Many farmers in the Western Cape made use of the Port Elizabeth Harbour which caused pressure, but the harbour container handling was coping well. The exporting farmers in the province recommended that the waiting period at the Harbour should be addressed.

 

1. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends that the Minister, through the Department, should ensure the following:

 

PRASA

6.1        That the Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and theRailway Safety Regulator,develop minimum standards for Covid-19 compliance at all PRASA stations.

6.2        That PRASA be compelled to make platform/public announcements in other languages used in the region of the station, other than English.

6.3        That PRASA be supported by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and/or South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to protect the entity’s assets for at least six months whilst the entity finalizes its security plans and procurement processes, and that SAPS be directed to develop minimum safety standards for implementation along the train routes, on trains and at stations.

 

Implementation of the IPTNs and expenditure of the PTNG

6.4        That the Department provide the Committee with a report on the roll-out and expenditure of the IPTN programmes funded by the PTNG in the implementing cities, including future expansions.

 

Taxis

6.5        That the Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, develop minimum standards for health and safety at all taxi ranks during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

6.6        That the Department provide the Committee with a comprehensive plan, within 30 days of the approval of this report by the National Assembly, to formalize the taxi industry.

6.7        That the Department obtain the required information from the relevant provincial departments responsible for transport,and provide the Committee with a report, within 30 days of approval of this report by the National Assembly, on the status of the following: i) number of valid operating licenses issued, ii) number of permits pending conversion,  iii) number of pending operating licenses yet to be issued, iv) number of illegally operating taxis, as well as v) a plan to address the shortcomings.

6.8        That the Department provide the Committee with a report on the interventions and plans in place for taxi ranks including the provision of PPE to ranks and/or the taxi industry, the expenditure on the PPE and where it was procured.

 

ACSA

6.9        That ACSA improve on the airport queues observed and, within 30 days of the approval of this report by the National Assembly, report back to the Committee on measures put in place to accommodate elderly passengers.

6.10      That ACSA ensure the use of multiple South African languages for Covid-19 information signs at the airports.

                       

7.         ADDITIONAL REPORTING REQUESTS

 

The Committee requested additional matters for the Department to report on:

Reporting matter	Action required	Timeframe
That the Department, in conjunction with PRASA, provide the Committee with monthlyprogress reports on PRASA’s fencing and security projects.	Written report from the Department and PRASA	Monthly reports within 30 days of the adoption of this report by the NA
That PRASA provide the Committee with a comprehensive report on thetotal expenditures on maintenance at Cape Town Train Station for the2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years, as well as a list of tenants at Cape Town Station, including their lease expiry dates.	Written report from PRASA	Within 30 days of the adoption of this report by the NA
That PRASA submit a comprehensive report on the cost of its branded PPE masks and the company from which they wereprocured.	Written report from PRASA	Within 30 days of the adoption of this report by the NA
That PRASA submit reports on the following: A report on the total cost of upgrades and improvements at Netreg station from 2015 to 2020, the number of security employed at the station and the total cost thereto, when security was withdrawn at the station, on whose instruction and what alternates were put in place. A comprehensive report, with documentary evidence, on when the first shack dwellers were noticed, and the steps taken to remove/relocate the people.	Written report from PRASA	Within 30 days of the adoption of this report by the NA
That PRASA submit a comprehensive report on the number of full-time PRASA security personnel in the Cape Town, their job descriptions and the total cost to company.	Written report from PRASA	Within 30 days of the adoption of this report by the NA

 

 

Report to be considered.