Ongoing cable theft and vandalism have become a serious problem for the restoration of the ‘notorious’ Central Line. Trains had even stopped running on the line in November 2019 due to cable theft. According to IOL, The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) only opened some parts of the line, from Cape Town station to Langa earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the city’s Portfolio Chair for Transport, Angus McKenzie commended residents for continuing to send tip-offs regarding the criminal activity. According to McKenzie, on Monday, May 24, the city’s law enforcement officials received information on an alleged theft.
McKenzie indicated to Cape {town} Etc that the biggest problem is despite the R1.4 Billion promised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to restore the central line and continue with the expansion of the wall project Langa, Bonteheuwel and Netreg train station, the project has reached a standstill. “I’m urgently appealing to the minister of transport to pull himself towards himself and to come down to the central line and see what’s happening because of his inability to ensure that PRSA is functioning, ” McKenzie said.
Speaking of a Transport Minister, Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde appointed the DA’s Daylin Mitchell as the new minister for transport and public works in the province. The 34-year-old from Beaufort West in the Central Karoo District replaces the controversial former transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela.
We welcome Daylin Mitchell as our new Minister of Transport and Public Works. ? https://t.co/tSuPSbUIz2
— Western Cape Gov (@WesternCapeGov) May 24, 2021