MEDIA STATEMENT

EVENT             :         Handover of Safety Permit to Botswana Rail

DATE/TIME   :        5 October 2007, 18h30

VENUE            :        Gaborone Sun, Gaborone, Botswana

It is rather fitting that at the backdrop of the SADC meeting as well as the launch of the SARA, we hand over a Safety Permit to Botswana Rail.  This is a momentous occasion for us as this is the first cross-border Safety Permit to be issued by our Railway Safety Regulator.  This Safety Permit is issued pursuant to our railway safety legislation which requires every railway operation in South African territory to be issued with such a permit.  It covers Botswana Rail operations from the Ramatlhabama border post to Mafikeng which include ten (10) trains per day in each direction. 

The issuing of this safety permit is not only a matter of compliance with the law, but also another step in the consolidation of our economic relations.  Botswana Rail is an important player in the integration of our economies, as evidenced by the type of commodities it transports every day to and from South Africa.  Among others, Botswana Rail moves cement, fuel, coal and copper ever day, these being high value commodities that play an important role in our respective economies.

In months to come we hope to issue similar permits to Swaziland and Mozambique for their respective operations in South Africa. In line with our stated commitment to the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology, we are committed to work together in harmonizing railway safety standards in the region.  The Protocol enjoins us to diligently ensure the enhancement of the safety of railway operations, which include-

               i.      adopting common safety rules and regulations governing railway signs, signals and rolling stock;

             ii.        standardizing accident investigation procedures;

            iii.        adopting applicable and appropriate standards on the safe movement of cargo and passengers;

South Africa has established a Railway Safety Regulator whose mandate is to exercise oversight on railway safety, regulate railway operation through the issuing of safety permits, develop and enforce safety standards to which all railway operations must conform.  Its mandate further includes the promotion of the harmonization of South Africa’s railway safety regime with the objectives and requirements of the SADC for the operation of railways.

The issuing of safety permits is a critical aspect of the work of the Regulator and is guided by the provisions of the Safety Management System Standard (SANS 3000-1) which sets out the requirements for the issuing of the safety permit.  The issuing of the safety permit also enables the Regulator to regularly conduct audits and inspections on the operations of the rail operator.  Similarly, the Regulator has unfettered jurisdiction to investigate accidents in our railways and issue directives to operators aimed at ensuring safe practices by operators.

In accordance with the requirements of the National Railway Safety Regulator Act of 2002, all operators or prospective operators are required to apply for a Safety Permit based on their successful submission of their Safety Management System Reports (SMSR) and the subsequent review thereof by the Regulator.  These reports serve a dual purpose:

·        Firstly, they must convince the Regulator that the operator has the ability, commitment and resources to properly assess and effectively control risks that arise from railway operations; and

·        Secondly, it provides a comprehensive working document against which the operator and the Regulator can check that the accepted risk control measures and the Safety Management System are in place, allowing the operator to run a safe business.

We therefore congratulate Botswana Rail in fulfilling all these requirements and we hope a safety culture will become the principal driver of its operations, not only within the South African territory, but wherever it operates.

It is therefore in this context that South Africa’s Railway Safety Regulator has issued a Safety Permit to Botswana Rail.  It is a significant step in the realisation of our commitment to ensure that we build a seamlessly integrated and effective railway safety regime across Southern Africa.

We remain committed to working with the Botswana government in ensuring that our railways are safe and they become principal drivers of economic growth both in terms of moving people and freight across the region.

END

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