The Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) is determined to become more relevant. Recognising its failure to provide consistent assistance in addressing challenges as well as to fully engage with stakeholders, the agency has issued the final draft of its Stakeholder Management Plan for 2017 to 2022. The introduction to the plan reads: “A more functional and efficient C-BRTA stands to not only benefit the industry but can make a worthwhile contribution to economic growth and development in the region.” The 59-page document outlines the various stakeholders the agency needs to work “more collaboratively” with. These include port authorities, corridor management agencies, various government departments, regional trade blocs and industry associations such as the Road Freight Association (RFA) and the Federation of Southern African Road Freight Associations (Fesarta). C-BRTA’s ‘Operation Better Engagement’ includes the establishment of steering committees, technical workshops and regular stakeholder meetings as well as surveys, focus groups and panels. The basis of the plan includes ongoing, widespread stakeholder consultation and makes provision for “constant review” and flexibility so that it can adapt to changing market conditions." A transport operator told FTW the new plan was “a lot of promises and hogwash which will not materialise in this lifetime”. He added that it was, in his opinion, merely another government “money-making scheme”. Another operator agreed, highlighting that the agency – which makes “millions of rands on cross border permits” – had promised to look into a universal permit for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region but had not made any progress to date. Calls to the C-BRTA for comment went unanswered.
