DoT close to finalising road freight strategy

South Africa’s road
freight strategy is close to
finalisation and remains
at the top of transport
officials’ agenda, according to
Minister of Transport, Dipuo
Peters.
She said key stakeholders
in the road freight sector had
been consulted for input into
the draft strategy.
Peters said the strategy
focused on sustainable
interventions to address
excess freight, overloading
and the poor road safety
record of the industry.
“Our review process of
the strategy dictates that
we should re-examine the
appropriate modal shift
and market share between
road and rail. The role of rail
freight provides a platform
through which the movement
of goods enhances economic
productivity,” she said. “We
believe there needs to be a
shift back to rail of bulk cargo
volumes in excess of
20 million tons per annum.
Rail is therefore an important
part of our vision for the future
of freight in South Africa.”
South Africa was being
turned into a rail hub and the
investments were clear to see,
said Peters. “Growing cargo
volumes on rail remains the
focus.”
She said the road freight
industry needed to decide
how best to embrace rail.
“It is not a competitor to
road or air travel, but rather
a complementary mode of
transport that enhances
South Africa’s global
competitiveness at large.”