NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2282
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 04 OCTOBER 2011
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 26 â 2011)
Mr M S F de Freitas (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:
(1) Whether all train drivers employed (a) in his department and (b) the
entities reporting to him are certified; if not, what is the position
in each case;
(2) whether all train drivers employed (a) in his department and (b) the
entities reporting to him (i) meet the requisite up-to-date
certification and (ii) are assessed regularly; if not, in each case,
what is being done to rectify the situation; if so, what are the
further relevant details in each case;
(3) whether any drivers whose certification has expired are currently
operating locomotives; if not, what functions do they perform; if so,
(a) why and (b) what (i) training facilities (ii) personnel and (iii)
succession and skills development plans are being utilised to assist
the specified drivers in this regard?
NW2654E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
1) (a) and (b)
Yes, all train drivers employed by the Passenger Rail Agency of South
Africa (PRASA) are certified.
2) (a) and (b) (i) and (ii)
Yes, all PRASA train drivers meet the requisite up-to-date
certification and are assessed regularly. PRASA has established
training centres in all the regions in which train operations training
is conducted. PRASA is registered as an accredited training provider
for train operations training with the Transport Education Training
Authority (TETA). These regional training centres are accredited
facilities, equipped with the relevant training material, assessment
tools, have qualified trainers (whom are subject matter experts), and
there are assessors that are registered with the TETA ETQA department.
The training for train drivers consists of theory, practical exposure
and a certification process. On completion of all required
assessments, an external independent moderator (appointed by TETA)
moderates all assessments and declares candidates certified and
competent.
(3) (a) and (b) (i), (ii) and (iii)
All train drivers currently operating locomotives are fully qualified.
If a train driverâs qualification is not operationally valid, then
these individuals undergo a validation process, get re-certified and
only then allowed to work independently.