The City of Cape town hopes treasury will include its railway system in its budged. Photo: GCIS
Cape Town hopes the treasury prioritises its collapsed train system
The City of Cape town hopes treasury will include its railway system in its budged.
The City of Cape town hopes treasury will include its railway system in its budged. Photo: GCIS
Cape Town hopes Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will include its passenger rail system in his budget speech.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis hopes to see a medium-term budget commitment to fast-tracking the devolution of their collapsed passenger rail system.
CALLS ON TREASURY TO INCLUDE CAPE TOWN RAIL SERVICE
Hill-Lewis says the city is keen to get its trains running again should the national government devolve passenger rail to the City of Cape Town.
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He said they hope to see a medium-term budget commitment to fast-tracking the devolution of passenger rail to cities.
The mayor says he wants to get Cape Town’s once-strong passenger rail service up and running again together with the private sector.
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CAPE TOWN PASSENGERS N EEDS A RELIABLE RAIL SYSTEM
Hill-Lewis says their rail feasibility study is already laying the foundation to run passenger rail in the best interests of commuters.
The mayor said commuters desperately need daily affordable, safe, and reliable public transport.
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RED TAPE DELAY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
The city is further engaging the treasury on red-tape-cutting reforms to the Municipal Finance Management Act and preferential procurement frameworks.
Hill-Lewis says the city has submitted a list of red tape provisions in the MFMA and related legislation. He adds that it is harder for local governments to deliver critical services like the passenger rail system.
The mayor says the rad tape also makes it hard for infrastructure development.
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“We are hoping to hear a commitment to reforming public finance law in the best interests of citizens while still ensuring the checks and balances needed for good governance,” says Hill-Lewis.
