Mayor Hill-Lewis Welcomes National Rail Masterplan but Demands Urgent Deadlines for Cape Town Takeover

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis welcomes the national move to devolve rail control but demands clear deadlines to fix the city's unreliable train system.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 8:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EWN

A Shift Toward Local Governance

In a significant move for South Africa's transport sector, the national government has released a draft National Rail Masterplan that includes provisions for municipalities to take control of local rail services. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis officially welcomed the proposal on Thursday, viewing it as a critical "turning point" for the city's crumbling transport infrastructure. The plan, released by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy for public comment, represents a policy shift toward decentralization aimed at modernizing a system that has long been plagued by mismanagement and service disruptions.

Modernization and Private Participation

The draft masterplan outlines an ambitious strategy to revitalize the country’s railway system over the coming years. A key feature of this vision is the introduction of private train operators, who are slated to enter the system by 2027. This move is designed to inject capital and operational efficiency into the network, potentially alleviating the burden on state resources. However, experts warn that despite these plans, commuters in major metros may still face several years of unreliable service as the transition and infrastructure repairs take place.

Cape Town’s Readiness and Call for Deadlines

While Mayor Hill-Lewis expressed optimism about the policy direction, he voiced concern over the lack of specific implementation dates within the document. He asserted that Cape Town has already done the groundwork and stands "ready to be the first metro to run its local trains." The Mayor is now calling for the National Department of Transport to establish clear and urgent deadlines for the transfer of authority, arguing that the need for a functional, safe, and reliable train system for Cape Tonians is too pressing to be left to an open-ended timeline.