By JOHANNESBURG — Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has thrown her weight behind ongoing infrastructural interventions by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), hailing the tangible strides made in reviving the province’s passenger rail network and modernizing long-distance road transport.
MEC Diale-Tlabela’s endorsement follows a high-level Ministerial Oversight Visit alongside Transport Minister Barbara Creecy. The delegation evaluated critical advancements along the Mabopane Rail Corridor, inspected the state-of-the-art Centralised Train Control Centre (CTC), and witnessed the official rollout of the revamped City to City long-distance bus fleet.
Breathing New Life into Rail Corridors
For years, the degradation of commuter rail lines dealt a severe blow to working-class households who rely heavily on affordable transit. However, recent oversight has highlighted encouraging momentum. Diale-Tlabela specifically commended PRASA for its steadfast efforts to restore crucial railway infrastructure, overhaul out-dated signalling architecture, and elevate overall operational safety and service reliability.
“We welcome the progress being made by PRASA to rebuild passenger rail services and improve the commuting experience of our people,” MEC Diale-Tlabela stated. “Reliable and affordable rail transport is essential to connecting communities to economic opportunities, employment, education and essential services.”
As the backbone of mass transit in urban economic hubs like Gauteng, a functional rail network is vital for relieving traffic congestion on regional freeways and reducing household transportation overheads.
Building a Seamless Intermodal Future
Beyond isolated transport upgrades, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport is maintaining a sharp focus on intermodal integration. Diale-Tlabela emphasized that a modernized public transport landscape must seamlessly weave together trains, buses, and minibus taxis, allowing commuters to shift between modes with ease and affordability.
The simultaneous launch of the new City to City long-distance bus fleet complements these regional rail advancements, signalling a holistic approach to national mobility.
“For many working-class households, the cost and reliability of public transport have a direct impact on their daily lives,” Diale-Tlabela noted. “Our vision must be an integrated transport system where commuters can move between different modes of transport safely, conveniently and affordably.”
Accountability, Safety, and Sustainable Growth
While celebrating infrastructure milestones, the MEC underscored that physical investments must be paired with rigorous, sustained attention to passenger safety, predictable scheduling, and strict institutional accountability.
Reiterating the provincial government’s stance, Diale-Tlabela pledged continued cooperation with the national Department of Transport, PRASA, and industry stakeholders to anchor a resilient, accessible public transport network across Gauteng.
“We congratulate PRASA on the progress being made and acknowledge the importance of continued investment in passenger transport,” concluded Diale-Tlabela. “We must build on these improvements to ensure that our public transport system responds to the needs of commuters and supports a safer, more connected and economically inclusive South Africa.”
