National freight strategy will enforce road user charges

Radebe promises to fast-track electronic clearances LEONARD NEILL LOGISTIC COSTS and transit times on all forms of transport will be reduced considerably while capacity to move freight will be increased when the National Freight Strategy scheme moves into place during the next three years, says Transport Minister Jeff Radebe. It will help remove or reduce deep-seated institutional blockades, especially in the form of bureaucracy, involving endless amounts of red tape and paperwork, he says. And although sea and air ports and rail transport are all involved, road operations come largely into focus. During the transition stages of the strategy implementation, enforcement will be applied with road user charges and gross vehicle mass limits being introduced on secondary roads. High volume road freight services are being transferred from the present provincial control to the South African National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral), which, in turn, will eventually fund the complete national road freight network. By next year all provincial roads carrying freight will be under Sanral control. Under the national strategy plan, electronic pre-clearance technology and improved customer interfaces are to be introduced.