Vandalism to rail infrastructure is incurring a staggering cost of nearly R5 billion annually, highlighting a significant challenge for the country’s transportation sector. This ongoing issue directly impacts the efficiency and volume of freight transported by the national rail network.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy addressed these concerns during a recent briefing to the National Council of Provinces, where she outlined the pressing challenges faced in infrastructure development. She emphasized that the rail system should ideally handle between 220 and 250 million tons of freight each year to effectively support economic growth and job stability in key sectors such as mining.
Currently, Transnet is only managing around 149 to 150 million tons of freight, falling short of the necessary volume to meet economic demands and safeguard employment in the mining industry. This shortfall not only hampers economic progress but also increases the risk of losing market share to regional competitors.
Recent agreements between Mozambique and Zimbabwe to establish a new rail line further exacerbate this issue. These developments are seen as a strategic move to enhance port access outside South Africa, making it imperative for the country to address its infrastructure challenges and improve its rail network to retain its competitive edge.
