Latest news with #DonaldSelamolela
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Reopening of Central Line Will Ease Traffic Congestion on Cape Town Freeways
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, has noted with appreciation the successful reopening of the Central Line connecting Khayelitsha to the CBD. Mr Selamolela attended the function that was overseen by the Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy, Deputy Minister Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, and the City of Cape Town Mayor, Mr Geordin Hill-Lewis. Mr Selamolela said: 'This is a significant infrastructural rail project that must benefit our people to and from work. We particularly appreciate the investment government has put into this project. We are changing the lives of people of Cape Town for the better.' The Central Line which used to commute 2 million passengers daily, had fallen victim to vandalism which saw the rail tracks being stolen and the stations being vandalised. This Mr Selamolela called on the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) not to lose momentum and increase the volume of carriages on the rails while significantly improve signalling equipment as that will ease pressure on Cape Town freeways. 'The reopening must not end with the photo opportunity of officials, but a real change in people's lives through the provision of affordable, safe and reliable public transport. PRASA must act with speed and regain the trust people used to place on trains. We want them to be a transport mode of choice.' Mr Selamolela urged the community and community leaders to play a role in protecting and guarding the rolling stock and the network as the assets are theirs. 'The greatest security is in the hands of the people. They must safeguard the Central Line against cable theft and burning of trains.' 'Our country requires this service as of yesterday. So many of our people are unemployed and will benefit greatly from this PRASA initiative.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Committee on Transport Sends Heartfelt Condolences to Families of Eastern Cape (EC) Minibus Taxi Accident Victims
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, has sent heartfelt condolences to the families of those who perished in the Eastern Cape minibus taxi crash on Sunday. He said it was with sadness that so many people perished in this manner. According to media reports, 15 people died in a head-on collision on the R63 outside Fort Beaufort, en route to Adelaide. The accident occurred after midnight on Sunday, when a minibus taxi collided with a van. Mr Selamolela said: 'We had begun to see results in our road safety plans this past Easter weekend and then sadly this happened. It is with great sadness that we have to bow in loss of these innocent lives who did not deserve to pass like this.' He added: 'South Africans deserve better and we will not tire in making the calls for all road users to always be vigilant and always ensure the safety of others at all times on the road.' Mr Selamolela reiterated that road safety is everyone's business. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Zawya
26-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Road Infrastructure Projects Must Benefit Poor Rural Communities in the Eastern Cape
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, said big infrastructure projects must benefit communities by creating sustainable jobs that revive and revitalise the economy. The committee is currently undertaking a week-long oversight visit to the Mtentu and Msikaba Bridge projects in the Eastern Cape. The oversight visit is part of Parliament's pilot project on the Oversight Priority Plan for the 7th Parliament. Mr Selamolela said the Mtentu and Msikaba bridge project is as a model example of how the roll-out of such projects can up-skill and benefit local people. 'The committee has witnessed how the project's skills transfer is achieved and secure jobs are created,' Mr Selamolela said. 'Infrastructural projects, particularly in rural provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, should be the springboards upon which our economy is revitalised.'In addition to completed projects, there has to be a sustainable maintenance plan that contributes to sustainable jobs into the future, the Chairperson added. The committee wishes to further emphasise the commendable progress and positive contributions made by government-led infrastructure projects and interventions. However, the committee is concerned to hear that significant projects, such as this one, are hijacked by community demands that are unrelated to the projects' objectives. 'Often these kinds of projects become a nightmare to complete as financial demands made by communities are not aligned with deliverables of the projects. We are aware of incidents where companies in the country had deserted sites, because of rivalry among community groupings and community leaders; this remains a serious concern for the committee,' Mr Selamolela said. The committee's oversight visit programme aims to provide committee members with information on project maintenance, repair and infrastructure projects. 'The time to unleash the real potential of infrastructure projects is now. Everyone knows that these kinds of projects area game changer when it comes to employment creation and economic growth,' the Chairperson said. Mr Selamolela called on communities surrounding the infrastructure projects to take ownership of the projects and fight any disturbances, including community demands for money. 'Half of our unemployment problems would have been resolved, if communities can work with our government,developers and implementers of road and rail infrastructure projects,' he added. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
