Spoornet is 'victim' of SA's export success Ð Erwin

GOVERNMENT IS fully aware of Spoornet's problems and the matter has been discussed at cabinet level, says Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin. "Things have been getting worse for some Spoornet customers, but they will get better," he said. Erwin was responding to the call made by the nation's granite producers for the rail provider to get its service back on track (See page 1). "The matter is being dealt with by an interdepartmental committee," he said. It must be understood that part of Spoornet's problems stems from the success South Africa has been enjoying as an exporting nation, he said. The country's export mix is growing and is more diversified than before. This has made it hard for Spoornet, which had been geared to handle mainly bulk commodity exports in the past, and which was now faced with severe strains on its service, he said. Cabinet had agreed that the energies of several government departments would be focused on the rail provider's logistics problems, and also on providing an efficient electrification programme.