VIDEO: Ban on preaching, trading on trains sparks outcry
“Prasa did not talk to us we just see this in the news. Trading on trains and preaching is our African tradition. Prasa cannot change our traditions.”
The passenger rail agency of SA (Prasa) has introduced new rules and regulations to safeguard trains on its newly opened corridors nationwide.
The regulations are stringent, calling for no drinking, trading, gambling or preaching on Prasa’s new blue trains.
Tshwane rail traders association chairperson Paul Mohale however said businessmen and women were not pleased with the regulations banning trading.
“We do not agree with Prasa and we are not shaken by their new rules.”
Mohale said the regulation on trading in particular was not new.
“This rule is not new. If you go to train stations, signs of no trading exist, however we still trade and are going to trade at the stations.”
He said he felt aggravated because Prasa did not consult them on the regulations.
“Prasa did not talk to us, we just see this in the news. Trading on trains and preaching is our African tradition. Prasa cannot change our traditions.”
He said Prasa was providing income streams for many traders capitalising on commuters.
“We are going to trade on the train whatever the colour of the train is – green, blue, black, white as long that train is moving on the South Africa tracks.”
Spokesperson Andiswa Makanda clarified to Rekord that traders would still be allowed to operate and have contact with commuters.
“Informal traders will be allocated designated areas to trade in and around the stations and will still have access to commuters.”
Makanda said since the train returned full operations in October 2022, some new high-tech electrical trains – The People’s Train – had been vandalised by stone throwers.
Recently, Prasa repaired previously vandalised stations for basic functionality.
To date, it has recovered the following lines:
– Mabopane-Pretoria (Jan 2022)
– Saulsville-Pretoria (March 2022)
– Pienaarspoort – Pretoria services with EMUs – 27 September 2022
“We want to appeal to the general public to safeguard and protect the new trains. People must report any acts of stone-throwing on the new trains.”
She said to preserve the integrity and longevity of the trains, ensure health and safety of commuters, informal traders and staff, the agency was now tougher against eating, drinking, trading, gambling and preaching inside the trains – which were all prohibited.
“While everyone can enjoy freedom of religion and association, that freedom cannot infringe on the freedoms of other commuters. We have responded to the demands of commuters.”
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She said since the introduction of stringent measures to safeguard trains, the agency had received positive feedback from commuters.
She said Prasa had implemented an integrated security plan, working with the police, railway police and private security companies to protect and safeguard the rail infrastructure.
“Since the implementation of the plan where we have restored services, we have not had any incidences of theft, though there have been attempts.”
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