Metrorail or Metrorail?

Trains are delayed due to manual authorization, defective sets and speed restrictions. Allow for extended travel time due to a train that failed in-section. If you make use of South Africa’s rail operator Metrorail, these are well-known messages by now.

The daily struggles and frustration of thousands of my fellow commuters are as a result of not only mismanagement and corrupt activities but also first no planning and then poor planning by government.

The current state of the service is where you not guaranteed the train will be on-time and your ticket might or might not be checked. What you can be sure of is an overcrowded train. After the struggle to get in, comes the struggle to get out. Picture yourself a scrum, better yet wrestling’s royal rumble.

Another challenge for both rail operator and consumer is that some of the tracks are not owned by Metrorail. Much of it is rented from Transnet and therefore Metrorail cannot legally do repairs and maintenance. This often leaves the operator and commuters frustrated with delays or a suspended line, pending TFR maintenance.

While the daily numbers of commuters have increase, the number of trains decreased with many trains sabotaged by arson and vandals. This led to some trains being cancelled and the remaining trains shorter to ensure a service on all lines.

Metrorail needs more than 90 train sets to have a normal service in the Western Cape, for the four lines that stretch over 490km tracks. With all the arson incidents the past two years, there was a time the province had less than 60 train sets.

I am of the opinion that the arson and cable theft is a well-organised syndicate, deliberately destroying Metrorail.

Unfortunately there is no security compliment to have a guard of honour next to the railway line, and there is just not enough manpower for all the stations and points.

Security guards are deployed to hot-spot areas, but families of the men and women are victimized and their lives threatened. Many of the unarmed guards step back when the criminals target the areas. These guards don’t speak, out of fear for the lives of their loved-ones. Many of the guards are also not trained to use a firearm. And we cannot just go and give every Hendrik, Jason and Thabo a gun.

Cable theft is a reality. Between the 21st and 25th of July 2017 eleven suspects were arrested. Rail crime is however not viewed as serious enough by our justice system. If it was how many criminals caught, or against whom there is enough evidence were successfully prosecuted?

One of the positives is there has not been a single derailment with fatalities in the Western Cape and compared with other regions train incidents are fewer. Delays and cancellations are also lower, and lines suspended for service (after a major incident) last a few hours – compared to days in other regions – and as hard as this is to believe, commuters here receive better communication.

However the reality is that Metrorail operates in an open environment, making it not immune to and thus vulnerable for criminal activities. Social ills in communities play a big role in the many challenges. Often criminals use the tracks as an escape route. There are also areas where the railway line is a border for rivalry gangs.

Railway police don’t resort under Metrorail – but SAPS – and having no jurisdiction over them or their deployment adds to the safety headache.

The past month also saw a number of level-crossing incidents, despite having booms and Metrorail appealing in their statements for motorist to be vigilant when approaching a level-crossing.

Part of addressing the problem is not only government making more funding available, but also making rail more than just a priority on paper. We will also have to start addressing crime, social challenges and unemployment. If we don’t do this and continue to play the blame game, commuters and Metrorail will continue to be the biggest loser and hooligan criminals laughing all the way to the bank.

This opinion piece was originally written for JustJody  

Metrorail's delayed promises

Metrorail is managed by union leaders and not the appointed management.

This was confirmed when Prasa Acting Group CEO, Lindikhaya Zidi, gave in to request by union leaders – despite cries by commuters for atleast the last four years.
Untu has been threatening Prasa with legal action for weeks now, if the company don’t beef up security and create a safer work environment. This comes after a train driver was shot dead at Netreg station in July 2016.

On 2 August 2016 a Metrorail train driver shot and killed a 26-year old attacker near Kraaifontein station, after being attacked by four men near the station – the second incident involving this driver. Earlier this year a train guard was threatened at gun point and in two separate occasions verifiers on a train and at a gate was threatened. There are also other incidents where Prasa staff have been intimidated.

Prasa now made a promise of not only armed security on the Central Line but also better communication, with regular SMS-notifications.

It looks like it is not #AllLivesMatter for Metrorail. It is not only the Central Line where criminal elements are at the order of the day. Prasa seems to contradict itself. A few weeks ago they used the criminal element as an excuse to have paid parking at Bellville yet parking at all other stations – even on the Central Line – are free.

It would appear as if the AGCEO is also not aware that Rapid Railway Police only start patrolling trains and stations after 8am, when the majority of commuters are already hard at work. I guess he is also not aware that Prasa has no jurisdiction over the railway police, or that the outsourced security of Prasa is not very proactive. He’s also quiet on what will Prasa do to ensure successful prosecution.

In an email dated 24 May 2017 I share with Mr. Zidi no one within CMOCC (Operational Centre) is being held accountable. His reaction two months later is a manager on duty until the last train completed its journey. A manager on duty in CMOCC is not the solution for the frustration of thousands of commuters, if that manager cannot be proactive.

Until this hour Metrorail cannot explain that on 24 May 2017 a manager was on duty and still CMOCC was not able to notice for three hours Wellington trains are delayed. That is one of many incidents I can point out (and Metrorail’s management have copies of all).

In the very same email I make the bold statement that Metrorail Western Cape’s Management don’t have the backbone to take responsible for and deliver a credible reliable service with their hands on the things they can control.

From the promises it would appear as if the AGCEO is not aware SMS notifications are already sent to commuters.

The problem Prasa/Metrorail seems to ignore is (a) the disconnect between the different internal departments and communication methods and (b) the credibility, accuracy and timing of proactive customer communication.

I’ve previously pointed out the problem but will repeat myself. Currently Customer Communication at Metrorail sits with the Customer Services and Train Operations departments. In Train Operations drivers and other technical support staff are responsible for communication. Customer Service’s priority is generating revenue and not communication first. The problem with both is that those responsible for communication had no communication training and are thus not even aware of Communication101.

Part of the solution – and I’ve been proposing this to Metrorail Western Cape since November 2014 – is
(a) an integrated customer communication policy and
(b) Marketing and Communication department (custodians of the organisation’s reputation) be the driving force behind all external and internal communication.

This should be done by crafting and editing of messages.

Metrorail Western Cape’s Operational Policy and Procedures don’t allow for the above but it has been proven in times of crises that it can work. Sadly egos are still a red signal for proactive customer communication.

How Metrorail cannot assist their commuters

Criminal activity seems to be the reason behind paid parking at Bellville railway station.

“The parking area at Bellville railway station reached a point where criminal activity became the order of the day,” says Marius Wagener from Prasa Cres.
“Drug peddling and theft created an unsafe environment for the commuting and general public parking at Bellville. Prasa appointed a private operator to manage the parking area, with the objective to create a safe and secure parking facility.”

Commuters making use of the parking were charged R600 per month in April and May. After complaints to Metrorail, this was temporarily halted for due processes to be followed. Commuters have since been charged R10 per hour, R40 per day and R600 per month to make use of the parking.
Metrorail in May said it had no knowledge of paid parking. Last week the rail operator said it is not responsible for communicating to commuters any maintenance and construction related matters, that have an impact on their customers.

Wagener says that those making use of the parking where informed on two occasions of the decision to place the parking under private management and be operated as a paid public facility.
The notice is dated 20th June 2017, but Wagener would not comment if one week is sufficient time for a notice where paying for a service is involved, considering they have been aware of it for atleast three months. 
Wagener did not respond to queries to confirm the different pricing options.
“The parking facility is not used exclusively by train commuters, but also local business and the general public,” says Wagener.
“The operator however does not charge different rates for commuters and general public.

Metrorail could also not provide a list of all stations with paid parking. 
When asked if a commuter willing to pay R20 and make use of the parking for two hours but trains are delayed or cancelled and that commuter arrives four hours later at the parking and now needs to pay R60, if Metrorail is saying it cannot assist its commuters.
Spokesperson, Riana Scott, responded “unfortunately yes. I suppose it is similar to parking at the airport and one’s flight is delayed”.

For transparency, the five questions below were submitted to Wagener on Friday 14 July 2017, to which he has not yet responded: 
1. You mention criminal activity and drug peddling that eventually led to this decision. It is an open secret that drug peddling is taking place at Eikenfontein, Brackenfell, Parow and Vasco and those are just four neighbouring stations to Bellville. It is an open secret that Retreat, Netreg, Khayelitsha, Bonteheuwel, Wittebome have the same problem. Yet there is no paid parking to make the environment safe.
In addition to the above commuters from Kuilsriver have been requesting Prasa repeatedly to ensure safe parking at that station and that has been ignored.
Question: what criteria was followed in making this decision and is it because Prasa Cres has offices and your staff, who make use of the parking had complained about the "unsafe" environment?

2. You mention a private operator was appointed, was there a tender out for this and could you give me the dates and publications this was advertised. Can you also confirm that the operator is not related to any senior Prasa official either at Head Office or in the province?

3. The notice (a) has no contact details to confirm that it is legit and (b) is dated 20 June 2017, meaning you only had one week (5 working days) to hand out such notice.
In addition to the above you admit the implementation was postponed in May to 1 July 2017. If decision was thus made in May to implement 1 July 2017, why did it take you almost two months to issue a notice?

4. You indeed correct that businesses in the area also make use of the parking. Businesses however make use of the parking under the bridge and not directly next to the station and Railway Police, where only commuters and Prasa employees park.

5. You mention that the operator is not charging different rates but would appear as if Prasa is not even aware of what rates is being charged. Can Prasa confirm what are the agreed rates per hour, per day and per month and what reimbursement will there be should trains be delayed because of Prasa?

Youth month should stress future possibilities

As the curtain closes on another youth month, I ask myself what remarkable change transpired in the lives of our youth during June?

Celebrations this year took place against the backdrop of several incidents of rape and murder of young children. To make matters worse the majority of perpetrators, if not all, are youngsters. If that is not enough to raise alarm bells, the fact that social challenges have played a role in almost all of these cases is significant.

We have long passed the stage of straightbacked alarm at the news of a rape or murder of a child. By now we should be sitting on the edge of our seats and asking ourselves rather earnestly, “where and when did we take a wrong turn?” Whom or what do we blame? Drug addiction, the drug lord who owns the means of our degradation, the merchants who pass the quick fix from one hand to the next? Or, are we going to blame peer-pressure?

A very good friend reminded me recently that it is tougher being a youngster today than a few years ago.

The youth of today are exposed to peer-pressure on a higher scale, communities with higher expectations from our youth – mainly because there are more opportunities – and then there is the pressure of social media.

As we put filters on our photographs, we cannot seem to do the same with our lives.

I draw the conclusion that changes in life expectations are largely to blame. Our youth are trying to keep everyone happy and to fit in. Very little focus, however, is given to our youngsters as individuals. The individual rather focuses on expectations from family, the community, friends, social media, and so on, but not their own goals, their vision.

The solution looks simple by addressing the challenges and paying attention to individual goals, but is that what we are doing? And what contribution is society, generally, making?

Something that has bothered me for some time now is the fact that we don’t give justice to the thousands of young people who, 41 years ago, stood up for what they believed to be wrong and to make shifts that finally led to a democratic South Africa.

Youth Day, and more still the month, is intended to commemorate the youth legends of yesteryear. But also to look at the challenges our youth battle with today.

Instead of doing this, Youth Day has just turned into another public holiday, an opportunity to drink, to be lazy or to just enjoy sports events.

On Youth Day I posted on Facebook: “I fail to understand why every Youth Day there is this and that sport thing. Sport is not the only thing our youth are good at and not all youths are interested in sport. Let’s not only focus on entertaining our youth but also inform and educate them to be better leaders.”

The more positive comments hold that sport unites, is healthy and promotes team spirit.

I still wonder, though: how many young people actually attend the sports events, and I don’t just mean those participating or are forced to be there.

Besides a certificate of participation and possible trophy, what else did our young people accomplish by the end of youth month?

If we want to address the challenges of our youth, we will have to be more creative than a sports event or two. If all the song, dance and sports are planned better Youth Day can be used to provide an opportunity for our young people to get information to further their studies, employment opportunities and learn more about different industries of employment.

Open days are not only for schools.

It is not only matriculants who need bursaries and do we have a database of unemployed young people in our communities?

Daylin Mitchell, member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, recently said in parliament the youth in our rural communities should be empowered.

What have youth development and opportunities been to young people in rural areas over the past five to seven years? How many cases are there not of an older individual, with more work experience, being employed instead of a young person with a degree, because the young person lacks the work experience? No opportunity is given, though, to the young person to gain the necessary experience.

I agree with my friend the MPL, that if young, previously disadvantaged South Africans aren’t empowered they will remain in a social void.

Youth development, then, is about presenting opportunities for the future, or we fail the Class of ’76.

• Original post appeared as Post Scriptum in Paarl Post of Thursday 6 July 2017

Your vote still more powerful than a picket poster

Sitting on a train on Friday 7 April I ask myself: are we after 23 years still a democracy?

Thousands used the first #FreedomFriday of Freedom month to take to the streets for a protest. You also had to pay close attention to know whether the protest was against state capture, our democratically elected president, firing of a former finance minister or against the governing party.

Maybe best to first mention I am not against South Africans exercising their democratic right to protest, against whatever. 

I also share the view and frustration over a lot of things done by our Commander in Chief. I’ll get back to the protest...

As i started writing this a video of kykNET Verslag popped up on my Twitter feed. The clip was about what is described as the presenter, Waldimar Pelser, venting over the President.

Waldimar makes some daring statements that echoes my question and makes we wonder “do we have media freedom or are we sitting with what some would describe as the ‘white-monopoly capital’ controlling the media

As media we obligated not to be bias and report all sides of a story. Does this however mean that as journalist I am not entitled to have an opinion?

As journalist I am obligated not to be bias. But I am no spin doctor, I am a journalist. Even before becoming a journalist I was a South African citizen. Like my fellow countrymen-and-women I am equal before the law and enjoy the same rights and responsibilities.

We enjoy press freedom in our democracy, but what protection do journalists enjoy for their thoughts and what if those thoughts and opinions are not the same as the majority?

Journalists don’t always receive the recognition they deserve. Many media colleague work in dangerous situations, where we have to take cover as the bullets and bricks fly. We at the receiving end of an auntie swear words or an uncle’s fist.

Is there an expectation from journalist to sit with a mouth full of words and act in the interest of the country? Unlike politicians we took no oath, yet they don’t hesitate to share their opinions.

According to reports approximately 205,000 South Africans countrywide took part in the 7 April protest. This is more than 80,000 less than the amount of votes the sixth biggest party received – and would have gotten you about five votes in parliament.

I did not take part in the protest. Not because I had to work, also not because it is my right not to take part. I did not take part because I am angry and frustrated at the many other things in our country – where many of our elected representatives fail us.

Throughout March nearly daily heard of children not only gone missing, but murdered. Until this hour, our leaders have not called for a day of prayer, let alone a protest.

In Paarl a clinic is being carried away brick-by-brick and with gang violence our elderly can barely go to pension payout points. But these are things we don’t protest about.

I was not one of the 277 members of the National Assembly who voted for the current president in 2009, I was also not an MP when Jacob Zuma was elected unopposed on 21 May 2014 for a second term.

See parliament elects the president and parliament should hold the president accountable and vote the president out. 

That is why citizens 23 years on 27 April, and the four general elections thereafter, stood in long queues to exercise our responsibility in voting for a political party.

We should not be misled to believe that Jacob Zuma will resign because we took part in a Big Walk and said so.

Our task is clear, to hold the political parties accountable to act in the interest of the country.

If the 12 political parties in the National Assembly are unable to hold the government accountable, we should hold them accountable when we make our cross.

Just before the big march Gwen Ngwenya, chief operating officer of the Institute for Race Relations, asked “when will South Africans learn that the ballot is mightier than the picket?”

We use the same argument, one for which I have been described on social media as “a stupid black guy”.

I manage to answer my own question. Thousands could take to the streets, against a democratically elected leader and some swear at him. No one was prevented by the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to take part – more confirmation at how our democracy has matured.

South Africa is might be heading down hill, but we not there yet. Me being able to write this, you openly criticizing the government and the many protest that will still be held are all confirmation of this.

Should we reach the edge, we can still land on our feet.

We can however not make a U-turn with a poster in the street. We will raise awareness, and indirectly be part of a political campaign for the next general election yes.

See our cross at the ballot box is still mightier than a picket.

• This blog originally appeared in Afrikaans in Paarl Post of #FreedomDay 27 April 2017

Time to walk and talk

I came to the conclusion that #Metrorail is a lot like the church…

Between four walls love is shown and preached, promises are made and everyone seems happy. But like the church, Metrorail shy away from taking bold decisions – decisions that seem unpopular but in the long-run it’s for the best.

Metrorail’s challenges are as open as the environment trains are operating in. Addressing those challenges should thus not be something that drag on forever, but addressed head-on.

I recently called Metrorail Western Cape’s regional management incompetent. While I retract that with this blog, I still hold the opinion that many of the senior managers don’t have a clue of the region they meant to manage.

On the eve of Human Rights Day and just a day thereafter, Metrorail seem to have lost the plot again. Both days I called every single relevant Head of Department and senior manager that led to the Regional Manager leaving a meeting to address issues at the operational centre.

Allow me to pause here and say: yes the Western Cape Manager of Metrorail should be the last man standing, but it is wrong that he everytime be the responsible person doing everyone’s work.

It would appear that Metrorail Western Cape’s Regional Manager and I occasionally think the same way (scary) but we apparently composed similar emails at the exact same time. By the time he and his team received mine, the regional executive were already given their marching orders – similar to my invite to join me on Thursday 23 March 2017 on Cape Town station to show the top management how commuters have to run around due to lack of effective communication.

This is where I thank the men and women, who did what one would expect them to do every day when your organisation is in crisis mode.

Now back to my daring statement…

I won’t go into details on here, but from my engagement and observation it was rather shocking that some of the HODs still tried to make excuses for things that were extremely obvious:

+ Trains displayed on electronic board as being on platforms that have been out of order for nearly a year.

+ Wrong announcements being made

+ Platform changes, without any - let alone effective - communication

+ Cancellations that lead to commuters on certain lines having to wait more than 60 minutes for the next train

I agree with the HOD: Customer Service we need to address the systemic issues. That we do by changing structure, policy and protocol. Taking into consideration that Metrorail was declared being in the ICU in March 2014, one would have thought the systemic issues would be addressed head on by now.

In Metrorail’s defence: many of the HODs are newly appointed – but how long does it take you to get to know your portfolio and all the challenges.

Three things (I can publicly say) from the regional executives visit stood out for me:

+ That it took the Regional Manager to instruct his executive to be on platforms.

Like if you senior management can’t you make that decision on your own and take an hour of your day to go walk on the platforms during peak commute and familiarize yourself with challenges commuters face daily.

+ I was extremely frustrated and angry to observe an HOD not knowing the region.

A senior Metrorail manager did not know even though both Kraaifontein and Strand [and Eersteriver Wellington, Malmesbury, Worcester and Muldersvlei] trains operate on the Northern Line, they different directions and cancelling one will mean commuters of that train will have to wait for the next train going that direction.

+ Another senior manager made the bold statement [that I gave a billion likes to]: “communication is not a priority for Metrorail”

I agree, if communication was a priority:

o   It would not have been a need to instruct the regional executive to walk on Cape Town station.

o   Commuters would know what time and platform their next train is.

o   There would not be simple spelling errors in SMSe sent out.

o   Announcers would not make confusing and wrong announcements

o   Electronic display-boards would display correct information

Metrorail Western Cape’s regional executive took their walk. They saw what some of us have been saying for months is actually true.

I’m thankful that issues are being addressed in the long-term.

It’s now however time to make communication a priority

It’s not time for more apologies and excuses

It’s now time to speak and act

Race vs. Party

Patricia de Lille’s resignation as leader of the DA in the Western Cape sure came as a shock for many. And her reason: to only focus on her role and govern as executive mayor of the Mother City.

In Mother of (only) the City I mention that you never trust everything you being told in politics and that it’s a game of practically anything goes. But now the DA's stronghold province is faced with electing a new leader...

Prior to the announcement end of January rumours have been going around about some trying to get Western Cape Premier and former DA Federal Leader, Helen Zille, to take on De Lille for the provincial leadership at the next congress.

Both De Lille and Zille are known for supporting change and younger leaders. One can thus not be blamed for assuming the two iron ladies reached a truce to allow the young(er) guard to rise.

Front-runners in the provincial race appear to be Acting Provincial Leader, Bonginkosi Madikizela, and DA Cape Metro Chairman, Shaun August.

In a discreet way the two have been campaigning on Facebook.

August’s campaign is highlighting the success of the party in the metro, under his leadership.

Madikizela’s campaign seems to be to get the support of the big guns to endorse him.

Call me crazy but one of the many random thoughts I had was that this is still De Lille vs. Zille – August is one of the former ID leader’s trusted aides and Madikizela once worked in the office of the former Mayor.

Apart from my random thoughts though, from social media it looks like August is leading.

Important maybe to mention the Interim Provincial Leader will be elected by ±120 delegates, of whom fifty percent of the total council comprise members of the Metro-region.

The two politicians are however not the only ones in the race.

Western Cape Standing Committee Chairman for Cultural Affairs and Sport, adv. Lennit Max, is also trying again. The former Western Cape ID leader, without any success, took part in the 2015, 2010 and 2007 race.

Also in the race is the only female, Dr. Arlene Adams, a City of Cape Town councillor. The former academic in a recent interview said: “If you don’t enter a race‚ you lose 100%. For a candidate‚ I have given myself a 25% chance”.

As for being the only female, competing to take over the position previously held by a female, Adams said she taught there would be more women putting themselves forward.

“I am stepping forward as a woman representing‚ embodying those people who do not speak and I am hoping they will understand that’s what the party is about.”

Delegates heading to Worcester will have to ask themselves if they voting for race, to see who crosses first, or for the party.

Just for those coming with majority in the province are coloureds, so a coloured should lead: note that in the North West, Limpopo and Eastern Cape where more than 90% of the population is black, the party leader is coloured (Joe McGluwa) and white (Jacques Smalle and Athol Trollip) respectively.

What is interesting about this election is that the person would possibly only be Interim leader until the provincial elective congress in August 2017 (should he or she not stand again).

The party won’t admit its factions and infighting – like who would – but they there. [And this is not me campaigning] but why not go for a neutral interim leader, who can keep the ship steady until the Provincial Elective Congress.

While the last academic, dr. Wilmot James, ran unsuccessfully for a leadership position, I am tempted to say the unknown dr. Adams could be a safe bet.

To build on the success of the party August, who already proven himself in the Metro-region and is DA Chief Whip in the City council, might not be a bad choice.

One could also argue adv. Max, who is a former provincial police chief, might be what the party needs to address the growing crime rate.

If you want to be traditional though, Madikizela who is also provincial housing minister and elected deputy party leader would be your choice.

Given the campaigning of not only the past three weeks, but months, delegates will have to ask do we vote for the race or the party?

And if the 2016 US Presidential election taught us anything: it’s don’t trust social media, it’s anything goes.