MEC Winde pleased that Choo-Tjoe back on track

MEC Winde buys his ticket for the Choo-Tjoe

The return of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe celebration was held on 19 October 2009. Ms Cynthia Mgijima, Head: Transnet Foundation, performed the welcome address and dedicated the celebration to the operational return of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, which had been discontinued for routine maintenance per regulator safety requirements on 30 June 2009.

Ms Mgijima said: "The first two restored coaches would be used today with the remaining three being completed by the end of the month. She also said: "Today demonstrated Transnet’s commitment to preserve the future of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. She concluded by saying: "The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe brings joy, hope and anticipation of change to ordinary people’s lives."

Mr Morne Hoogbaard, Acting Municipal Manager for Eden District Municipality said that the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe will also be enjoyed by the 2010 supporters and the Eden District Municipality expresses their commitment to making sure that "the train will blow out steam." Mr Hoogbaard said: "The Eden District Municipality, in consultation with other municipalities, had agreed to the appointment of a project manager to facilitate funding for the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe within the next few weeks." Mr Hoogbaard also said that "the three spheres of Government should work together to ensure that the Choo-Tjoe remains one of their icons."

Mr Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development & Tourism said in his address that this was a very special tourism occasion. He thanked Transnet most sincerely for being committed to the preservation of this heritage rail icon despite it no longer forming part of their core business. Minister said: "The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe is an icon that is known around the world and we must make sure that we preserve it for our children and our childrens’ children."

Minister Winde gave the undertaking that Provincial Government would market the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe through Cape Town Routes Unlimited. The Minister said that the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe newsletter was designed to keep all interested parties informed of progress in finding a private funder for the train.

Minister Winde said that he would be visiting the United Kingdom in November and was in the process of scheduling meetings with key vintage railway stakeholders to gain experience for implementation in South Africa.

Minister Winde said that the Provincial government fully supported Transnet’s next phase of commitment, which was putting out expressions of interest through a public participation process to attract potential investors.

The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train left from the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Transport Museum over the picturesque Kwang River, snaked over the Great and Little Brak Rivers and ended its trip outside the Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay.

Mr Neels Zietsman, Chairman of Mossel Bay Tourism welcomed the guests and introduced the Acting Mayor of Mossel Bay Municipality, Mr Harry Ebendal who in turn introduced Mr Johan Gelderblom from National Parliament. Mr Gelderblom said that the return of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, with enthusiastic marketing, becomes an important economic generator.

The event hosted by Transnet Foundation was attended by Transnet officials, representatives from Provincial Government, Eden District Municipality, George Municipality and Tourism, Mossel Bay Municipality and Tourism, UATA, SA Rail, HRASA, Media and various tour operators.

Third time lucky! Liquor Amendment Bill out for public comment

The Western Cape Liquor Amendment Bill was published for comment on the 16th of October 2009.

This is the next step in the Provincial Government's plan to put in place legislation that will address both the problem of the liquor trade in the Province being largely unregulated, and the scourge of alcohol abuse that continues to exact a terrible toll on our economy and the inhabitants of the Province.

The Amendment Bill addresses some concerns that were raised by the national Minister of Trade and Industry, the SAPS and the City of Cape Town with regard to the Act. These concerns, in a nutshell, relate to the following:

(a) The national Minister would not agree to promulgation of the Act until the provision that would allow a special event liquor licence to be granted to a school was removed. This has been done.

(b) The SAPS was of the view that the licence application process had to amended so that applications must be lodged with the designated liquor officer at the time it is lodged with the Liquor Board. This amendment was effected, since it would speed up the application process, reducing the time applicants will have to wait to get an outcome.

(c) The City of Cape Town’s insisted that the determination of trading times fell within its competence. This has also been included in the Amendment Bill.

In addition to these, a number of other amendments are proposed. These relate mainly to name changes (the Board becomes the Western Cape Liquor Authority, and the Board now refers to the governing body of the Authority). Although the majority of the sections of the Act are affected by the Amendment Bill, most of the changes relate to these name changes.

Lastly, a number of corrections to cross-references were made.

The Amendment Bill does not, in any way, affect this government’s approach to liquor regulation:


· We are still determined to ensure that liquor establishments will, under this legislation, not be allowed to operate within residential areas.

· We will still take whatever is necessary to ensure that communities are:

- better informed of new licence applications
- given a platform to make their objections known;
- given the tolls, ensure that operators who fail to adhere to licence conditions and the law are dealt with quickly, efficiently and, where circumstances so demand, severely.

· Furthermore, we will still seek to ensure that the police and other law enforcement agencies, including the Liquor Authority’s Inspectorate, are given the powers and tools to manage, and if need be, close liquor establishments in the Province.

The approach taken in/by the Act with regard to addressing the social ills caused by the industry remains the same – the government is unwavering in its commitment to ensure that the industry acknowledges the harm caused by the product it sells, and commit funds and other resources to curb and contain those negatives; that consumers and the general public become more knowledgeable on issues of liquor abuse, irresponsible trading and responsible consumption, and options available to them to intervene. In the words of the current awareness campaign by this and other liquor authorities around the country: “Liquor regulation is everybody’s business”, not only those who trade in and consume the product.