Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is looking to President Cyril Ramaphosa for answers on the delay of the national Rail Devolution Strategy, which could save lower-income families R932-million every year. Hill-Lewis pointed out that Ramaphosa had promised that the strategy would be out in 2023, this after national Department of Transport director-general James Mlawua also said progress was being made to gazette a Devolution Strategy in 2023. The lack of a functional passenger rail system was severely felt in Cape Town during the violent minibus-taxi stayaway, last year. “Enough with the delays and false promises on devolution Mr President – we await your clear deadline for the national Rail Devolution Strategy and for the handing over of passenger rail in Cape Town. The City is ready to work with national government to fast-track devolution to the benefit of commuters, and our offer of a joint working committee stands,” said Hill-Lewis. He reiterated that the City of Cape Town’s rail feasibility study had shown that, with efficient trains, lower-income families could save R932-million a year. Further, 51 000 jobs could be sustained and at least R1-billion could be added to the local economy every year.
