Pretoria:According to South African Government News Agency, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has announced the government's efforts to enhance the safety and affordability of public transport amid rising household costs due to geopolitical pressures. The minister emphasized the importance of an integrated transport system in addressing these challenges.
At the start of Transport Month in October, Creecy highlighted the role of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) in providing commuters with alternative transport options. PRASA has restored 35 out of 40 key passenger rail lines over the past two years, increasing passenger trips from 10 million in 2020/21 to 101 million by the end of the 2025/26 financial year. The average fare for a peak-hour round trip is between R12 and R15, depending on the distance.
Creecy also focused on ongoing improvements, including the refurbishment of tracks, signalling systems, and stations to support more frequent and reliable services. The integration of passenger and road transport systems is crucial for enhancing affordability and safety. Plans are underway to reform the public transport grant system, promoting a unified support model for bus and taxi operators based on principles of integration, sustainability, fairness, safety, and affordability.
Additionally, the Department of Transport is collaborating with the taxi industry to reform and formalize the sector, aiming to make vehicles more affordable and introduce new management models through pilot Transport Operating Companies in each province.
In terms of rail and port developments, the South African government has endorsed the creation of the Transnet National Ports Authority as a standalone entity to boost the performance and competitiveness of the freight and logistics system. This move is part of broader reforms outlined in the White Paper on National Rail Policy and the National Freight Logistics Roadmap, which aim to attract private-sector investment and reposition rail as a key transport backbone.
The government is actively pursuing infrastructure investments, with substantial public funding already allocated and further applications underway. These efforts include ongoing rail upgrades and opportunities for private-sector investment in rail and port infrastructure projects.