President Cyril Ramaphosa has implored the Transport Department to work to ensure the rollout of the rail and freight infrastructure to unlock the country’s economic growth and job creation drive.

Speaking at the National Transport Conference in Midrand north of Johannesburg earlier, the President decried the fact that inefficiencies in logistics have negatively affected the country’s economy.

Ramaphosa said work is under way to increase trade volumes in the rail sector.

“Inefficiencies in logistics are estimated to cost our economy close to R1 billion a day. To date, train slots covering 24 million tons a year have been conditionally awarded to 11 train operating companies. We expect the first private operator to commence operations in April 2027. We have set an ambitious target of moving 250 million tonnes of freight by rail by 2029. In the past financial year, 160 million tonnes of freight were moved by rail, an increase of 5.5% on the previous year. Transnet’s revenue in 2024-2025 rose to R82 billion, which is nearly 8% higher than the year before.”

President @CyrilRamaphosa delivers a keynote address at the inaugural National Transport Conference at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg.

The gathering brings together decision-makers, investors and innovators to engage on building a sustainable transport system that… pic.twitter.com/7hosSG9X9h

— The Presidency (@PresidencyZA) March 16, 2026

VIDEO | President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the National Transport Conference:

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