Spoornet rejects privatisation

SPOORNET WILL not be privatised in any way, and nor will sections of rail routes be concessioned to private enterprise. That was the assurance from Transport Minister Dullah Omar when he addressed a memorial service for victims of the recent rail accident near Cape Town which claimed 10 lives, Omar said South African rail services, both passenger and freight, would remain parastatal. Spoornet announced some months ago that it was considering concessioning portions of lines that were either under-utilised or running at a loss. Trade unions protested strongly at the time. Omar said that privatisation of these state assets would not happen because private companies tended to put profits before safety.