National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 2002 (Act No. 16 of 2002)

RECOGNISING that safe railway operations are fundamental to the safety of all persons and the environment;

RECOGNISING that safe railway operations promote the use of railways as a mode of efficient transportation;

RECOGNISING that safe railway operations must be effectively overseen, managed and co-ordinated to ensure their safety;

ACKNOWLEDGING that railway safety has a relationship with occupational health and safety and with security;

ACKNOWLEDGING that safety and security matters are interconnected and that the regulator has a primary role to play in safe railway operations and a supporting role in occupational health and safety, and security;

ACKNOWLEDGING that all organs of state that have a role to play in railway operations must co-operate with one another so as to give effect to the principles of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations contemplated in Chapter 3 of the Constitution;

AND IN ORDER TO—

*	provide for and promote safe railway operations;

*	encourage the collaboration and participation of interested and affected parties in improving railway safety;

*	recognise the prime responsibility and accountability of railway operators in ensuring the safety of railway operations;

*	facilitate a modern, flexible and efficient regulatory regime that ensures the continuing enhancement of safe railway operations; and

*	promote the harmonisation of the railway safety regime of the Republic of South Africa with the objectives and requirements for safe railway operations of the Southern African Development Community;

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—

National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 2002 (Act No. 16 of 2002)

Preamble