SATAWU vows to fight PRASA’s planned retrenchment of 500 workers

Cape Town Train Station

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) has vowed to fight the planned retrenchment of 500 workers at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).

PRASA has initiated Section 189 consultations, citing severe financial strain.

However, the union argues that job cuts should be the absolute last resort.

The looming job cuts are expected to hit the Long-Distance Passenger Transport division, formerly known as MLPS, the hardest.

SATAWU spokesperson Amanda Tshemese says management must present a solid plan that doesn’t involve firing workers.

“Over 500 workers are going to be affected at the Long Distance Passenger Division. We are opposing and rejecting the retrenchments. Implementation of Section 189 should be the last resort. We have been engaging with the employer, PRASA management, which claims to be under financial strain and struggling to meet financial obligations. We know PRASA is not transparent with us about the entity’s finances. The management must do their job and come up with a solid plan to avoid section 189,” says Tshemese.

[WATCH] The CCMA has given passenger rail agency PRASA 60 days to present a new wage offer to its workers. As things stand, the employer has refused to present a pay offer due to ‘financial challenges.’ This prompted labour unions SATAWU and UNTU to take PRASA to the CCMA to… pic.twitter.com/RCnwII3Km1

— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 11, 2025