Private sector involvement was crucial for the successful implementation of the Western Cape’s Freight Strategy, said Corrine Galant, provincial deputy director for freight. Speaking at the launch of the strategy at the annual Transport Forum in Cape Town recently, Grant said implementation had to be collaborative. The strategy is currently in the first phase of implementation and government officials have spent the better part of the past two months engaging with stakeholders in the different spheres of government to thrash out the implementation programme. “Without a clear outline of how the strategy is going to be put into action, it just becomes another dusty old book,” said Grant. She said moving forward there would be increased engagement with the private sector and called for feedback from industry about the strategy.
Grant said through a staged implementation approach there was optimism that the strategy would effect real change at ground level. “The first stage has been very focused on preparatory actions and finalising the details of the second stage that will start in April this year,” she said. During the first three years some 80 different actions would be taken while more were being planned for the medium and long term up to 2029. She said with regard to the strategy objective to improve freight planning and coordination, appropriate freight transport groups would be
established with specific focus on developing freight skills in the province. Government capacity to implement and deliver on the strategy would also be increased. “To address the objective around freight demand management, the goal will be to bring about greater integration of the freight transport sector. Developing a Western Cape Freight Demand Model that is updated annually is a key action.” With regard to modal rebalancing, actions include increasing industry awareness about modal threats and opportunities as well as assessing and developing policy, incentives and regulation
IMAGE WITH CAPTION: The goal will be to bring about greater integration of the freight transport sector. – Corrine Galant
