Q&A with Prasa chair Khanyisile Kweyama

People want safe trains that run on time. Is that asking too much?

Not at all. That’s what we’ve been focused on as an interim board.

Is that part of the problem, that there’s still no permanent board?

There are now advertisements for a permanent board.

Why has it taken so long?

There’s a new minister in place, and he started the process. We hope the new board will continue what we’ve started rather than start from scratch and reinvent the wheel, because I believe we’ve put in very firm foundations, starting with a strategy. When we got here there was no security strategy, things were just being done haphazardly. Second, there were corrupt, irregular tenders that the AG had been flagging for ages.

Is it a problem that every time there’s a new minister he comes with new promises?

This minister has continued with the old programme of the previous minister.

Even though it’s not working?

I wouldn’t say that. The system is huge, so when you have mini results you don’t see the impact as quickly. Just in terms of arrests, for many years there were no arrests, no-one was identified for cable theft. That’s now happening.

And the trains still break down …

There was a contract for maintenance of trains that was irregular since 2009 and nothing was done. We have stopped that and reissued so that we get professional people who will come and maintain the trains.

Aren’t commuters sick and tired of promises and excuses?

We’re sick and tired too, of contractors that have been milking the system dry and not delivering. And we’re not making empty promises, we’re seeing them through. But you’re talking about millions of commuters who have also been breaking the system and riding on trains for free.

So where are your railway police?

They were integrated into the SAPS and they’re not our jurisdiction.

Weren’t you supposed to have your own police already?

We’ve put our own police into the Western Cape.

Aren’t trains still in flames there?

That’s the criminal element we have to deal with. The minister has announced an additional 3,500 to be employed by us and trained with the assistance of the SAPS.

Is having your police trained by SAPS the answer?

We will ensure the training is up to standard.

So that they stop people taking trains for a joyride?

Those who left the train idling so people could get into it will face the full disciplinary process.

That’s symptomatic of a complete absence of managerial oversight at Prasa, isn’t it?

We inherited a system that’s completely broken. But we will be appointing permanent executives who are committed and drive the turnaround.

Including a CEO who won’t turn out to be completely useless?

If we have anything to do with the screening.

Why has it taken so long?

We’ve advertised and we’ve interviewed. Now we have to screen and assess and put them through vetting.