Radebe wants to involve all stakeholders

“I AM aiming to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in a totally new transport logistics strategy.” That was the message to FTW from transport minister Jeff Radebe who believes urgent solutions are needed, for instance, to issues such as congestion on vital urban trunk routes like the M1/N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria. “Time wasted there through continuous delays caused by bottlenecks must be addressed to allow for faster movement of cargo, much of which is export related.” At the same time the shift from road freight to rail is essential for the free flow of international trade, he says. “Rail infrastructure, needs to be improved. This will not only enhance export growth but will also slot into the Government’s R100 billion welfare and job creation spending programme,” he added. But Government cannot fulfil these tasks alone, says Radebe. The help of the private sector is essential, especially in concessioning railway lines in rural areas where a number of unused lines are to be reopened. Private sector funding is also necessary in toll road construction and improving cross-border transport links into neighbouring countries. Transport corridors such as the Trans Kalahari and Maputo are important to future trade. There is, he says, no need to fear that moving freight from Gauteng to ports outside the country at the end of these two highways will be detrimental to South African ports. “This type of link corridor should be extended to include routes to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. We must look at developing the entire SADC region, not merely our own back yard. I intend discussing this fully with my counterparts in other SADC nations.” Radebe’s intimate knowledge of port congestion problems, particularly in Durban, and the terminal privatisation plans will also be the subject of immediate discussions with his successor as public enterprises minister Alec Erwin, under whose control they will now fall.