August 23, 2004, 14:11

The Railway Safety Regulator is to issue temporary safety permits to eligible operators later this week, the statutory watchdog said today. The body was established by an act of Parliament in 2002 to promote safety and ensure railway operations were effectively overseen, managed and co-ordinated.

Mpho Litha was appointed chief executive some two months ago.

As a first step to issuing safety licenses, temporary permits would be granted to a number of rail operators who had committed to adhere to at least minimum safety standards. Litha said with the establishment of the regulator, all operators were now required by law to be licensed and once licensed, an operator would have to develop its safety management system in accordance with norms and guidelines specified by regulation.

"This (would) end the situation in which the operator is both referee and player at the same time," Litha said in a statement. "The regulator will oversee safety by conducting audits of the safety management system, by inspection, by carrying out accident investigations. We will analyse accident reports from operators, and accident trends. We will also benchmark operators and consult with interested and affected parties," she said.

Over 200 operators including Metrorail, Spoornet, Shosholoza Meyl, heritage railway steam clubs and surface railways would be issued temporary safety permits from Friday. - Sapa