[Let the ANC do what they want. They will ignore the DA anyway. The whole project is badly conceived and is a waste of a lot of money which will achieve little. Maybe, the real reason for it is merely because the ANC needs some propaganda and can then pretend (to the rest of the world) that it has achieved something great – when in fact everyone here will know it is a white elephant with little or no use. Jan]

The decision by the Cabinet to go ahead with the R20-billion Gautrain project will be a decision that in all likelihood it will live to regret, the Democratic Alliance spokesperson on transport, Stuart Farrow, said on Sunday.

The parliamentary portfolio committee on transport’s report raised a number of key issues that, if ignored, could have serious ramifications for the project if it goes ahead, Farrow said in a statement.

“The fact remains that despite Parliament’s approval of the finance minister’s mid-term Budget, the funds will be vested in the transport minister’s budget and will therefore still be subjected to oversight and scrutiny by the portfolio committee.”

The committee’s report outlined three broad options, much of which appears to have been ignored in reaching this decision.

“If the project goes ahead with its current alignment, gauge and voltage and no compatibility with the existing Metrorail services, it would make any rescue plan difficult if it fails.”

There is no need to create a stand-alone project when the indication shows it to be both a financially and politically high-risk option to deal with the challenges of road-based congestion in Gauteng.

As the most expensive single public-transport project undertaken to date in South Africa with highly questionable ridership, limited permanent job opportunities other than during the construction period and no clear plan as to where the scarce skills needed for such a technical project or materials will be coming from, it is taxpayers’ money that will be most at risk.

“Surely reason must prevail. Without the deadlines of the 2010 World Cup Soccer tournament a factor ahead of it, time must be given for some serious consideration of the portfolio committee’s concerns, which were tabled in Parliament and arose out of its public hearings.”

Failure to do so could add to the already fragmented public-transport system in Gauteng and create another white elephant, said Farrow. — Sapa

Source: Daily Mail & Guardian
URL: http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/br…/p>