Cape Town – The Deputy Minister of Communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, says all South Africans should work with government hand in glove in the fight against corruption.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of her visit to the Cape Town Rail Station on Friday morning, Deputy Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams said corruption was a social ill that stole funds that were set aside for the development of the country.
“Today we are here as the Department of Communications along with other stakeholders to make sure that we talk to the people of Cape Town, especially those that utilise trains to come to the city.
“The main reason we are here, interacting with people, is because we want to invite all South Africans to be involved in the fight against crime and corruption. We are encouraging everybody who is a citizen to play his or her part.
“It is only when we work together that we will be able to defeat the social ills that we are facing as a country and government alone cannot do it,” she said.
The Deputy Minister was accompanied by officials from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Metrorail and those from her department, who from as early as 6:30am interacted with commuters and told them about government’s anti-corruption campaign.
She said her visit to the station was the first of several visits that government will undertake to sites around the country over the festive season until January.
Asked about her interaction with the members of the public, the Deputy Minister said she received positive feedback from most of the people she spoke to.
“We got a warm reception because all the corrupt and criminal activities that we are talking about affect them wherever they are. If they must take a train here and the train is delayed due to cable theft, it means they are also affected.
“Therefore they are eager to say government we are here, tell us where we can help.”
She said others she had spoken to came up with better options of how government and civil society can work together to fight corruption.
The Deputy Minister was also taken on a tour of the station and given a sneak preview of one of 12 scooters that will be unveiled by PRASA at the Cape Town Station on December 1.
The scooters will enable officials to conduct safety patrols on platforms and all areas within the station.
These, the Deputy Minister was told, would be launched as part of a pilot that will also take place in the Eastern Cape. – Sanews.gov.za
