Well the DA seems to think it's the Gauteng folk who have erred. This article certainly answers some of my questions.
DA: Heads must roll over monorail mix-up
Gauteng's provincial ministers for transport and finance should be fired for bungling the proposed monorail between Soweto and central Johannesburg, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province said on Monday.

The R12-billion monorail project was put on hold after Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said he had not been informed about the project and only heard about it through the media.

"How could the national transport minister be kept totally in the dark when rail is a national competence and needs approval from the Railway Safety Regulator and the South African Rail Commuter Corporation?" Bloom asked.

He said the "fiasco demands" a response from Shilowa.

"He should fire [the two provincial ministers] who have let him down badly in disregarding the most basic consultation on a major project."

Bloom said foreign investment should be encouraged, but it was astounding that Mashatile could sign a deal with a "fishy" Malaysian company that still had to divulge its local and international partners.

"Is Mashatile really so naive, or are there other interests at stake?

"An inquiry is needed into who would gain from the proposed development corridor on the monorail route. I am very suspicious," he said.
full story from M&G here