President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged government, businesses and labour to work together to transform South Africa’s struggling transport and logistics sector.
Speaking at the inaugural National Transport Conference held at the Gallagher Convention Centre on Monday, the President said the event should mark a turning point for the country’s transport system.
Ramaphosa stressed that an efficient transport and logistics network is critical for economic growth, warning that inefficiencies are costing South Africa’s economy nearly R1 billion every day.
To strengthen collaboration, the President proposed the establishment of a permanent Transport Council that would bring together government, business and labour to drive reforms in the sector.
Government has already placed logistics reform at the centre of its economic recovery strategy through the Medium-Term Development Plan. Key initiatives include the National Rail Policy of 2022 and the National Freight Logistics Roadmap of 2023, which aim to restore rail as the backbone of freight transport.
Ramaphosa also revealed that South Africa aims to increase freight moved by rail to 250 million tonnes by 2029, up from 160 million tonnes in the last financial year.
The reforms include opening rail infrastructure to private operators through Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager, a move expected to improve efficiency, reduce the cost of doing business and attract investment.
According to the President, a modern transport system will not only boost the economy but also create jobs and strengthen regional trade.
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