F.A.QIn line with government’s commitment to improvising safety in all modes of transport, the National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 2002 (Act 16 of 2002) was promulgated in 2002, thereby establishing the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR).
The RSR is an agency of the Department of Transport and is listed as a National Public Entity in schedule 3A of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999).
It is governed by a Non-executive Board of Directors, appointed by the Minister of Transport for a term of three years. The first Board was appointed in June 2003. The board is the accounting authority in terms of the National Railway Safety regulator Act (NRSRA) AND THE Public Finance Management Act.
The functions of the RSR are managed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), appointed by the Minister for a period not exceeding five years. The CEO is an ex officio member of the Board and is the accounting officer.
The RSR Mandate
The RSR mandate is contained in the National Railway Safety Regulator Act of 2002. The fundamental principle embodied in the NRSRA is one of co-regulation, whereby railway operators are responsible for managing safety, and the RSR is responsible for overseeing safety. To this end, the mandate of the RSR includes:
- Overseeing safety in the railway transport industry.
- Promotion of the use of rail through improved safety performance.
- Development of regulations and standards as required.
- Conclusion of co-operative agreements with all organs of state whose activities may impact on railway safety in order to prevent duplication.
- Promotion of the harmonisation of the railway safety regime in South Africa with the objectives and requirements of neighbouring countries, in particular the Southern African Development Community (SADC) members.
- Being the competent authority for the transportation of dangerous goods by rail.