The controversial monorail from Soweto to Johannesburg is on hold while the provincial government consults more widely on the proposal, said Gauteng’s provincial ministers of transport and finance on Friday.
Provincial minister of public transport, roads and works Ignatius Jacobs and provincial minister of finance and economic affairs Paul Mashatile said in a joint statement that they had met Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe, Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo and Johannesburg councillor Rehana Mosajee about the monorail on May 25.
”The provincial government accepted that consultation was inadequate [and that] the province would need to go back and deepen consultation with all stakeholders,” said the provincial ministers.
They said Radebe told them the monorail proposal would not be supported in its existing form but that government was not in principle opposed to monorail.
It was agreed ”that the proposal would be put on hold until such time that the necessary process, including consultation, has been undertaken”, said the provincial ministers.
They said Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa was aware of the project, ”but was not involved in the details or consultations”.
They said the monorail was a private-sector initiative to invest in public transport and was regarded as in line with the provincial government’s approach.
”The monorail is a positive development in attracting inward investment to transport infrastructure while contributing to the development of a public transport system that is efficient, safe, affordable and reliable.”
The project was announced on May 16 when the provincial government and the Gauteng Economic Development Agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the developer on the project, Newcyc.
Radebe subsequently ordered it to be put on hold, saying he had not been told about it although transport is a national responsibility.
The meeting between the provincial ministers and Radebe followed.
”The provincial government remains committed to the promotion of cooperative governance, working in close partnership with the national and provincial government, in building an effective transport infrastructure to provide safe, affordable, accessible and reliable public transport services to the people of the province as well as to contribute to the success of initiatives such as the 2010 World Cup,” said the provincial ministers. — Sapa