Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa says the inaugural National Transport Conference should mark a turning point for South Africa’s transport sector, calling for stronger collaboration between government, business and labour to drive reforms and improve the country’s logistics system.

According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa addressed delegates at the conference held at Gallagher Convention Centre on Monday, highlighting the need for partnerships across sectors to build an effective transport system. He proposed the establishment of a permanent Transport Council to foster collaboration among government, the private sector, and service providers in land, air, and sea transport.

The President underscored the importance of an efficient transport and logistics system for economic growth and improving South Africans’ lives. He noted that logistics inefficiencies cost the economy close to R1 billion daily, emphasizing the urgency for reforms.

The government has prioritized logistics reform in its economic recovery strategy through the Medium-Term Development Plan. Key initiatives include implementing the National Rail Policy of 2022 and the National Freight Logistics Roadmap of 2023, aiming to restore rail as the backbone of South Africa’s freight logistics system. The establishment of the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager has begun opening the rail network to private operators, with train slots for 24 million tonnes of freight annually conditionally allocated to 11 companies.

The government aims to move 250 million tonnes of freight by rail by 2029, up from 160 million tonnes in the past financial year. Improvements are emerging through the National Logistics Crisis Committee’s efforts to address freight system challenges and enhance operations on key corridors.

President Ramaphosa concluded that a modern and efficient transport system would lower business costs, attract investment, and create jobs, thereby strengthening regional integration and enhancing economic competitiveness. The conference offers an opportunity for stakeholders to prioritize transport in the country’s growth path and shape a more inclusive and resilient system.