Gauteng Legislature receives updated on Coronavirus COVID-19 level 3 lockdown strategies for Metrorail
25 May 2020
Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Roads and Transport was recently briefed by the Administrator of PRASA on measures in place, as the country moves to Alert level 3 of sub regulations of the lockdown. This is in line with the Committee’s oversight mandate on the Department of Roads and Transport in Gauteng to ensure the provision of social protection and statutory services to safeguard the wellbeing of commuters in Gauteng.
The committee expressed dissatisfaction to the measures presented by PRASA for level 3. As the bulk of working-class citizens go back to work, trains are expected to be operational effective I June 2020. However, plans presented by PRASA are short of a Gauteng province integrated system and could lead to a public transport disaster during level 3.
In the presentation, it has emerged that PRASA/Metrorail will only have one line in operation in the Gauteng province. This move only addresses the north Gauteng commuters and living out all other regions in the province.
Issues of safety, security and screening measures presented by the Administrator of PRASA were not reassuring to the committee. Some of the doubts was prompted by the fact that PRASA has no indication on average figures of their daily commuters. Therefore, making PRASA’s mitigation plans feeble as they are not informed on any context including that of daily commuters.