While Vodacom has cancelled its contract with PRASA for the provision of cellphones, which train drivers used to communicate with control rooms, it has also been revealed that ANC took R9 Billion from PRASA to pay for SANRAL e-tolls, according to Steve Harris from UNTU, which is a union within Prasa. Train drivers use these cellphones to get the verbal go-ahead to use routes to prevent accidents, because they can’t use the radio base system because that is not working either!
Drivers now have to use their own cellphones, which is against PRASA rules (and probably against their insurance too). Harris says that the lives of train drivers are in danger when they can’t get authority to use routes and have to wait at crossings, because commuters who are angry about late trains have attacked train drivers in the past. He says criminals also prey on waiting commuters whilst they wait for late trains. Violence is #TheAfricanWay and the solution to everything it seems!
