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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outgoing Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said: “I’m leaving this place [the transport ministry] highly motivated,” during an impromptu media briefing at the Paarden Eiland Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) depot on Tuesday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last December, Mbalula was elected as ANC secretary-general, a full-time position which will see him resign as minister, as explained by</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-01-to-complete-sa-cabinet-reshuffle-multiple-political-machineries-must-work-nationwide-heres-how/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Daily Maverick </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">associate editor Marianne Merten</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mbalula was in Cape Town for an oversight visit to assess the progress of ongoing Prasa projects and security measures.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1555637\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6231.jpg\" alt=\"mabalula prasa trains\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" /> Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said that by the end of 2023, new trains, dubbed the ‘People’s Trains’ should be operational across the country. (Photo: Sune Payne / Daily Maverick)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mbalula said: “By the end of this year, I am definitely sure with the programme we have put in place… all the lines will be fully operational.” He said this would happen countrywide with the newly acquired trains, dubbed the </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-01-11-cape-towns-southern-line-almost-back-on-track-as-commuters-enjoy-peoples-train/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People’s Train</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n<h4><strong>Promises</strong></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mbalula has made several promises on the train network, including reopening Cape Town’s Central Line to Khayelitsha, which has still not happened. He did touch on this, saying: “We’ve got a problem with resettling people.”</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-30-dear-minister-mbalula-trust-is-earned-and-you-have-failed-that-test-too-many-times/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dear Minister Mbalula, trust is earned – and you have failed that test too many times</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“When you say it is not felt on the ground, go to Naledi, in Soweto, and see for yourself,” said Mbalula in reply to a journalist’s question about getting commuters back on trains after long periods without rail services.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-11-28-after-the-collapse-prasa-finally-reopens-rail-line-serving-soweto/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the collapse – Prasa finally reopens rail line serving Soweto</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his visit, Mbalula went to two Prasa sites. First was a new mixed-use development at the Cape Town train station. Prasa said the development would contain retail space, a hotel and residences with 3,400 beds for students who receive funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. This is a private-public partnership between Prasa’s property division and the private sector. Construction began in August 2021 and is expected to be completed by August 2023.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1555636\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6223.jpg\" alt=\"mbalula trains\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" /> Prasa trains at the depot in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town. The rail agency is currently undergoing a modernisation project to replace older train sets and carriages. (Photo: Sune Payne)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the visit, Mbalula and a contingent of officials, including Prasa board chairperson Leonard Ramatlakane and acting CEO Hishaam Emeran, visited the Paarden Eiland depot, where agency rolling stock is kept. The area was filled with the new blue trains.</span>\r\n<h4><strong>Anti-vandalism measures</strong></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prasa officials told Mbalula of new concrete walling that would act as a hindrance to vandalism and theft, problems that have long plagued Prasa. New measures include seismic detection of vandalism and CCTV cameras.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-01-28-crumbling-philippi-station-on-cape-towns-central-line-highlights-prasas-enormous-challenges/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crumbling Philippi station on Cape Town’s Central Line highlights Prasa’s enormous challenges</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the briefing, Emeran said: “We have been rolling out an integrated security strategy and we’re bearing the fruit from that process. It’s about the deployment of physical boots on the ground — we’ve increased the numbers substantially and we’re busy now with rolling out the technology.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“You see it now with the smart walls — it’s not just a concrete wall, it comes with CCTV cameras… seismic detectors… a combination of boots on the ground plus technology. Where we’ve rolled out we’ve seen a huge reduction in terms of security, crime, vandalism incidents… the numbers have come down to virtually next to nothing.” </span><b>DM</b>",
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"name": "Prasa trains at the depot in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town. The rail agency is currently undergoing a modernisation project to replace older train sets and carriages. (Photo: Sune Payne)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outgoing Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said: “I’m leaving this place [the transport ministry] highly motivated,” during an impromptu media briefing at the Paarden Eiland Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) depot on Tuesday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last December, Mbalula was elected as ANC secretary-general, a full-time position which will see him resign as minister, as explained by</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-01-to-complete-sa-cabinet-reshuffle-multiple-political-machineries-must-work-nationwide-heres-how/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Daily Maverick </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">associate editor Marianne Merten</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mbalula was in Cape Town for an oversight visit to assess the progress of ongoing Prasa projects and security measures.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1555637\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1555637\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6231.jpg\" alt=\"mabalula prasa trains\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" /> Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said that by the end of 2023, new trains, dubbed the ‘People’s Trains’ should be operational across the country. (Photo: Sune Payne / Daily Maverick)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mbalula said: “By the end of this year, I am definitely sure with the programme we have put in place… all the lines will be fully operational.” He said this would happen countrywide with the newly acquired trains, dubbed the </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-01-11-cape-towns-southern-line-almost-back-on-track-as-commuters-enjoy-peoples-train/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People’s Train</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n<h4><strong>Promises</strong></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mbalula has made several promises on the train network, including reopening Cape Town’s Central Line to Khayelitsha, which has still not happened. He did touch on this, saying: “We’ve got a problem with resettling people.”</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-30-dear-minister-mbalula-trust-is-earned-and-you-have-failed-that-test-too-many-times/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dear Minister Mbalula, trust is earned – and you have failed that test too many times</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“When you say it is not felt on the ground, go to Naledi, in Soweto, and see for yourself,” said Mbalula in reply to a journalist’s question about getting commuters back on trains after long periods without rail services.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-11-28-after-the-collapse-prasa-finally-reopens-rail-line-serving-soweto/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the collapse – Prasa finally reopens rail line serving Soweto</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his visit, Mbalula went to two Prasa sites. First was a new mixed-use development at the Cape Town train station. Prasa said the development would contain retail space, a hotel and residences with 3,400 beds for students who receive funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. This is a private-public partnership between Prasa’s property division and the private sector. Construction began in August 2021 and is expected to be completed by August 2023.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1555636\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1555636\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6223.jpg\" alt=\"mbalula trains\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" /> Prasa trains at the depot in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town. The rail agency is currently undergoing a modernisation project to replace older train sets and carriages. (Photo: Sune Payne)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the visit, Mbalula and a contingent of officials, including Prasa board chairperson Leonard Ramatlakane and acting CEO Hishaam Emeran, visited the Paarden Eiland depot, where agency rolling stock is kept. The area was filled with the new blue trains.</span>\r\n<h4><strong>Anti-vandalism measures</strong></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prasa officials told Mbalula of new concrete walling that would act as a hindrance to vandalism and theft, problems that have long plagued Prasa. New measures include seismic detection of vandalism and CCTV cameras.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-01-28-crumbling-philippi-station-on-cape-towns-central-line-highlights-prasas-enormous-challenges/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crumbling Philippi station on Cape Town’s Central Line highlights Prasa’s enormous challenges</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the briefing, Emeran said: “We have been rolling out an integrated security strategy and we’re bearing the fruit from that process. It’s about the deployment of physical boots on the ground — we’ve increased the numbers substantially and we’re busy now with rolling out the technology.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“You see it now with the smart walls — it’s not just a concrete wall, it comes with CCTV cameras… seismic detectors… a combination of boots on the ground plus technology. Where we’ve rolled out we’ve seen a huge reduction in terms of security, crime, vandalism incidents… the numbers have come down to virtually next to nothing.” </span><b>DM</b>",
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Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said that by the end of 2023, new trains, dubbed the ‘People’s Trains’ should be operational across the country. (Photo: Sune Payne / Daily Maverick)
Prasa trains at the depot in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town. The rail agency is currently undergoing a modernisation project to replace older train sets and carriages. (Photo: Sune Payne)