Transport department identifies focus areas

Investment plan by November RAY SMUTS FORGET ABOUT transgressions of the past. New Transport Minister Jeff Radebe is acutely aware South Africa’s rail/roads/ports systems simply have to get better and he aims to fix them. Addressing the Cape Times Safmarine Breakfast Club in Cape Town last week - attended by both outgoing Safmarine CEO Howard Boyd and incumbent Ivan Heesom-Green - quiet-spoken Radebe said his department had identified three main areas upon which to focus in the year ahead. l An overall review by September of the public transport and subsidy system on all modes with a view to establishing an efficient, widespread network covering rail, taxis and buses (even in rural areas). l Developing a comprehensive logistics strategy and investment plan by November. l “Overhauling” the transport department to develop this new direction in its entirety. “We also want to develop a business case for increasing private sector investment in the public transport system. On the integrated logistics system we all know the rail system is unreliable and that road transportation is under enormous pressure.” Radebe emphasised the need to to eliminate bottlenecks in major transport corridors, to build new multi-modal transport platforms and review rail and road transport systems carrying 180 million tons and 647 million tons of freight a year respectively. The Minister told his audience trade with South Africa was growing rapidly and that container traffic volumes were expected to double by 2010 and double again by 2020.