The United National Transport Union (Untu) is alarmed by the Railway Safety Regulator's (RSR) decision to grant the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) a one-year safety permit.
According to Untu, several incidents concerning the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) over the past year were not reported to the RSR, www.ewn.co.za reported.
Untu said Prasa should have been required to take accountability and ensure correct safety measures are in place before a permit was awarded.
Prasa spokesperson Nana Zenani confirmed last week that a one-year safety permit had been issued by the RSR. It is valid from August 31 to July 31 next year.
Prasa had been given a temporary permit early in August to operate, after the RSR had sent it a contravention notice on August 1 because it didn't have a valid safety permit.
Untu has appealed to its members to report accidents to ensure it takes matters up with the Rail Safety Regulator on their behalf.
Untu spokesperson Sonja Carstens said: “I must say, up to now, the Railway Safety Regulator has submitted to the union they were not aware of instances that we’ve brought to their attention.”
Meanwhile, the Public Protector has agreed to investigate struggling Metrorail in the Western Cape, where the service has been hit with multiple problems that have seen the numbers of commuters drop by nearly half.
Frequent delays and inadequate space on commuter trains have been made worse by the recent torching of coaches. Metrorail staff members have also been attacked while on duty.
"After having written a letter to the Public Protector on 29 August, 2018, I received a response letter from Mr Oupa Segalwe, acting executive manager at the Public Protector’s Office, on 30 August, 2018," said Nceba Hinana, DA member of the provincial Parliament and chairperson of the standing committee on transport and public works.