Mothlanthe pushes rail imperative at RFA conference

South Africa has no choice
but to increase the use
of rail freight if it wants
to reduce the cost of
logistics in the country and
boost economic growth,
Deputy President Kgalema
Motlanthe told delegates
at last week’s annual
conference of the Road
Freight Association (RFA)
in Phalaborwa.
“The biggest challenge,
however, to the freight
logistics system is the
ineffective rail/road split.
Although government has
elevated the importance
of infrastructure
development on the national
agenda, road continues
to dominate the freight
industry,” he said. “The
Presidential Infrastructure
Co-Coordinating committee
is starting to formulate
plans that seek to address
that rail/road split.
According to our 2010
figures the division of cargo
between road and rail is
88.8% on road and only
11.2% on rail.”