NATIONAL NEWS - During his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa touched on the government’s future plans for Tshwane.
In his speech, he mentioned the establishment of a so-called “crime detection university” in Hammanskraal to improve the training of SAPS officers.
Stressing the importance of such an institution, he said: “investment and growth require a safe, stable and crime-free environment”.
“More importantly, it is fundamental to the aspirations of all our people to live in security, peace and comfort.”
With regard to the Tshwane metro transport sector, he said the government had invested R1.4-billion to upgrade the Mabopane railway lane.
This was aimed at providing safe, reliable and affordable transport service.
“We are modernising Prasa’s rail network,” he said.
The Mabopane line has been closed for essential refurbishment and upgrades.
Work underway at other lines includes station upgrades, parkway replacements, new signalling systems and overhead electrical traction upgrades.
“A key priority this year is to fix commuter rail, which is vital to the economy and to the quality of life of our people,’’ said Ramaphosa.
South Africa’s rail network transports over a million commuters to and from work daily.
He said the upgrades of the railway lanes was laying the ground for the metro’s economic development.
Tshwane metro was to be a part of building a smart city in Lanseria, he added.
“A new smart city is taking shape in Lanseria which 350 000 to 500 000 people will call home within the next decade.
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“The process is being led by the investment and infrastructure office in the Presidency alongside the provincial governments of Gauteng and North West, working together with the cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Madibeng,’’ said Ramaphosa.
In his speech, he also mentioned the newly launched Tshwane automotive special economic zone (SEZ) in Silverton.
He said it would expand production and the local manufacture of components.
