From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, or PRASA’s, new war room became fully operational earlier this month, with Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula officiating its opening. Journalist Simone Liedtke tells us more.

Simone Liedtke:

In the words of the Minister, the continued decline in service that PRASA provides the commuting public required the urgent address of the entity’s turn-around, hence the launch of the war room. In speaking to delegates at the opening, the Minister emphasized that the war room is “about the people” and that it is now a key measure on government’s commitment to improve.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula:

Simone Liedtke:

In a build-up to the opening, media visited the signal cabin at Elsburg station, in Germiston, which is said to embody the challenges that PRASA currently faces. In an attempt to address these, the war room will focus on service recovery, safety management and the accelerated implementation of the modernisation programme.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula:

Simone Liedtke:

Media also visited PRASA’s Gauteng Nerve Centre, based in Tembisa, which will host up to 80% of the provinces’ 98 signal cabins, by June next year.

Sashnee Moodley:

Other news making headlines:

Foskor board to finalise sustainability plan within six months

And, IDC urged to up its ‘counter-cyclical’ game, as Patel sets R110bn funding target

Foskor’s board is conducting a comprehensive review of the group’s underperforming operations with the aim of developing a sustainability plan within the coming six months.

Foskor chairperson Bobby Godsell

Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel is insisting that the IDC play a more assertive counter-cyclical investment role in the South African economy and has formally set a R110-billion, five-year disbursement target for the State-owned development finance institution.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.