Mayor Hill-Lewis has said the President’s lack of response to the rail devolution is costing a million commuters. Images- X@ Geordinhl
Ignoring Millions? Mayor Hill-Lewis’s plea to the President
“When the President ignores our repeated calls, he is really ignoring the 1 million commuters in Cape Town. We have been trying to reach out for months, and after an earlier commitment in June to respond to us soon, we have still heard nothing,” said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Mayor Hill-Lewis has said the President’s lack of response to the rail devolution is costing a million commuters. Images- X@ Geordinhl
After the Presidency’s stance against responding to threats, the City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis wants to remind President Cyril Ramaphosa, that he had committed to addressing the City’s request for a collaborative rail devolution working committee.
According to City News, the City aims to contribute to the national strategy and finalise Cape Town’s rail devolution plans.
ALSO READ: Youngest Cape Town mayor-elect: Who is Geordin Hill-Lewis?
Regrettably, Mayor Hill-Lewis expressed discontent over the President’s inaction on our joint committee proposal, which has been pending for over two months.
“This is an unacceptable situation for us,” said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
WHEN YOU IGNORE RAIL DEVOLUTION,YOU IGNORE A MILLION COMMUTERS SAYS MAYOR HILL-LEWIS
“I assure President Ramaphosa that Cape Town genuinely seeks collaboration on rail devolution. Our joint committee proposal represents numerous commuters, especially lower-income households relying on functional trains.
ALSO READ: Cape Town: Fixing railways will save families R1-billion a year
“When the President ignores our repeated calls, he is really ignoring the 1 million commuters in Cape Town. We have been trying to reach out for months, and after an earlier commitment in June to respond to us soon, we have still heard nothing,” said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
LOWER INCOME FAMILIES IN OUR CITY WOULD SAVE R 932 MILLION
Studies indicate that functional trains could save lower-income families in our city R932 million annually.
ALSO READ: PRASA pledges to fully restore Cape Town’s Central Line
The lack of trains was keenly experienced during the taxi strike, and it remains a daily inconvenience for many residents. The failed passenger rail system currently serves only 2% of commuters.
“Our 12 June request for a joint working committee to devolve rail is not a new one – it is a long-standing request to the current and past Transport Ministers.
ALSO READ: Judge Makhubele “sidelined and excluded” PRASA’s legal team
Only by working together can we get rail devolved to the City in the shortest possible time, for the sake of every person in desperate need of a safe, affordable rail service in Cape Town,” said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Our request is simply for the President to respond by 31 August to our proposal for a joint working committee. We do not wish to resort to drawn-out intergovernmental dispute mediation.
ALSO READ: Activists take Parliament to court over PRASA
But if we are forced by continued ignoring of our reasonable pleas for collaboration, we will declare a formal dispute because we have an obligation to Capetonians that we must honour,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis
