“It is hard to think of a more crucial task than resurrecting Cape Town’s commuter rail service that has been vandalised and invaded under the noses of law enforcers,” said chamber president Jacques Moolman.
“We need all role players united in a collective effort to win this battle against criminal elements, for the alternative would lead us down the path of anarchy. Law and order is fundamental to our hopes of growing the economy and lifting communities out of poverty.”
Extortion was flagged as a major concern by the Western Cape Property Development Forum which has drawn attention to problems at construction sites countrywide, added the chamber.
A business environment survey by the chamber late last year found that 62% of the respondents rated the train service as “inefficient” and 34% rated the quality of road infrastructure as poor.
The poor rating was despite a 17.8% increase in budget allocations to the transport and public works sector over the past five years, with the allocation specifically to transport infrastructure having increased by 10.16% over the same period.
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Battle to reclaim Cape Town railway corridor a 'litmus test' of government's ability to uphold law and order
Image: Esa Alexander/Sunday Times
The battle to reopen Cape Town’s strategic central commuter railway line is a litmus test of the government’s ability to maintain law and order, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Wednesday.
The chamber said it was appalled by revelations of alleged gangsterism and extortion delaying the return to service of the line, a transport artery that carried more than 50-million commuters in 2011, that was suspended due to extensive vandalism and theft.
The Sunday Times reported at the weekend that activist turned businessman Loyiso Nkohla, who was shot dead during a meeting at Philippi railway station, was being threatened by extortionists seeking a percentage of contracts related to the revival of the railway corridor.
He was working as a mediator between the Passenger Rail Association of South Africa (Prasa) and communities who illegally erected shacks on the line and need to be relocated.
The chamber said his death was a sombre reminder that the government “cannot afford to lose this battle, given what’s at stake”.
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“It is hard to think of a more crucial task than resurrecting Cape Town’s commuter rail service that has been vandalised and invaded under the noses of law enforcers,” said chamber president Jacques Moolman.
“We need all role players united in a collective effort to win this battle against criminal elements, for the alternative would lead us down the path of anarchy. Law and order is fundamental to our hopes of growing the economy and lifting communities out of poverty.”
Extortion was flagged as a major concern by the Western Cape Property Development Forum which has drawn attention to problems at construction sites countrywide, added the chamber.
A business environment survey by the chamber late last year found that 62% of the respondents rated the train service as “inefficient” and 34% rated the quality of road infrastructure as poor.
The poor rating was despite a 17.8% increase in budget allocations to the transport and public works sector over the past five years, with the allocation specifically to transport infrastructure having increased by 10.16% over the same period.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
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