The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) commends government led by the African National Congress on the revival of the local train manufacturing industry with the historic achievement of the 300th passenger train produced in Nigel this week. This is a welcome revival of a local industry that had literally died during the decade of state capture and corruption.
We are confident that the target of producing 600 passenger trains locally by 2035 will not only be met but can be exceeded. The announcement by the Minister for Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy, of plans to expand passenger rail from Musina to Polokwane, Pretoria and Joburg, and similarly connecting Joburg to Mbombela as well as a high-speed train to eThekwini; will provide a lasting demand for locally produced passenger trains. The successful revival of this industry will attract additional demand across the African continent, especially from neighbouring states.
The expansion of passenger rail will ease congestion on our roads and the unaffordable costs of road maintenance, accidents and fatalities. It will be a massive boost to domestic and regional trade and tourism.
We are particularly pleased that more than 60% of these trains’ components have been locally produced. This has helped create thousands of badly needed jobs and provided workers with invaluable skills. As demand for these trains increases, it will be critical that government with industry partners increase the percentage of locally produced components.
The disastrous experiences of Transnet being held hostage by dodgy foreign suppliers for parts needed to maintain and repair its freight railway stock was an important lesson on the need for South Africa to develop and nurture its own domestic industrial capacity to produce such components.
Plans by the Passenger Rail Authority (PRASA) to utilise space next to train stations to support local businesses is critical. This will create thousands of jobs but it will also reduce travelling time for workers buying household goods. It will help ensure local communities feel a sense of ownership of passenger rail and thus have a stake in protecting its infrastructure from vandalism and theft by syndicates and gangs.
COSATU is pleased by progress made by PRASA in stabilising and rebuilding its passenger rail network in our cities, including the renovation of train stations, railway lines and fencing as well as signaling which are key to not only ensuring its revival, improving safety and enabling trains to move at higher speeds but also to winning back millions of passengers.
It is key that the Department of Transport and PRASA work closely with workers and Organised Labour in its efforts to rebuilding passenger rail and ensuring that working-class communities have access to affordable, reliable and safe, world class train services.
Issued by COSATU
Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)
Mobile: 082 785 0687
Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za
