Mandate and Vision

Objective

PRASA's primary objective is:

• To ensure that at the request of the Department of Transport, rail commuter services are provided within, to and from the Republic in the public interest; and
• To provide, in consultation with the Department of Transport, for long haul passenger rail and bus services within, to and from the Republic in terms of the principles set out in section 4 of the National Land Transport Transition Act, 2000 (act No. 22 of 2000).

Vision

Enhanced mobility as the gateway to accessible socio-economic opportunities and a shared future. Two fundamental principles underpin the vision:

• Accessibility: PRASA should facilitate access – be a gateway – to a better quality of life by enabling individuals and communities to access socio-economic opportunities.
• Mobility: PRASA should connect individuals and communities through an integrated network of mobility routes.

Mission

To provide sustainable transport solutions through service excellence and innovation.

Modal integrations: PRASA's mission reflections four key intentions:

• Service excellence: Superior performance that is safe, reliable and affordable, and which makes a lasting impression by actively building brand loyalty – both internally (employees) and externally (customers - ultimately adding benefit to the passenger.
• Sustainability: A triple bottom line focus on sustainable development that considers not only financial profit, but also environmental quality and social equality.
• Mobility solutions: Reframing the basis of business delivery to favour innovation, integration and partnerships.
• Integration: Safe, seamless and dignified travel experiences across all models of public transport.

Values

The values that will guide PRASA and underpin the performance ethos of the organisation are guided by the fundamental, progressive humanitarian values of South Africa's constitution:

• Participation
• Communication
• Honesty and integrity
• Fairness
• Innovation

Strategy Role

Created by Government to advance its agenda for the transformation of the public transport system into a vibrant, efficient one, PRASA's strategic role may be defined as follows:

PRASA introduces a unique offering into the public transport environment with its vision to provide integrated transport solutions due to its control of commuter rail, inner-city, long distance rail and road-based long distance bus services, supported by trans-orientated station and terminal developments. Modal integration lies at the heart of the Department of Transport's public transport strategy. PRASA is positioned to build on the synergies that Metrorail, Shosholoza Meyl and Autopax brings to the delivery of public transport services. It also retains the option of reinforcing these with feeder and distribution services, where appropriate and beneficial, for wider integrated public transport solutions that increase mobility and accessibility to all the opportunities that are available to the people of South Africa. None of the existing providers of public transport services have this potential. Secondly, PRASA is the first and only government-owned vehicle in the area of public transport. Government will continue to subsidise and/or regulate public transport operators, while many municipal bus entities had had their role reduced. With the restructuring of the former South African Transport Services, Government lacked the leverage to directly influence public transport service provision and relied on other providers to drive its own public transport goals. With the creation of PRASA, government is in a far better position to drive the new public transport strategy.

PRASA is expected to play a major role in the development of social and economic infrastructure. The organisation will partner with transport and rail authorities to plan and deliver on rail and other transport infrastructure.

PRASA's primary responsibility is to effectively develop and manage rail and related transport infrastructure and to provide efficient t rail and road based passenger transport services. This is supported by the focused management of the property portfolio that is being developed to enhance passengers' travelling experience. This is being achieved through the transformation of key station properties into transit orientated development precincts that can generate sustainable income streams.