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South Africa loses between R150-billion and R300-billion annually because ageing infrastructure, theft and vandalism have left 16% of iron-ore, 12% of coal and 24% of other export mining products stranded off rail, according to the draft National Rail Master Plan published in April 2026. Road freight has grown from 53.5-million tonnes in January 2008 to 78.5-million tonnes in 2026, while rail has barely moved, according to Land Transport Survey data from Statistics South Africa.
Eleven private train operators allocated slots to add 24-million tonnes of freight capacityThe Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager announced on May 13, 2026, that 11 private train operating companies had been allocated slots across five corridors, adding 24-million tonnes of freight capacity with potential to scale to 52-million tonnes over five years. The real target is 250-million tonnes a year by 2030, up from about 160-million tonnes currently.
Draft R2-trillion rail masterplan outlines vision to restore rail as logistics backbone by 2050Transport Minister Barbara Creecy released the draft National Rail Master Plan for public comment in April 2026, outlining an ambitious R2-trillion vision for repositioning South Africa's underperforming rail sector as the backbone of the country's logistics and transport system by 2050. The plan includes rationalising freight rail networks to focus on high-density corridors, transitioning key parts of the national rail network to standard-gauge by 2050 and facilitating private sector investment to improve efficiency.
Freight Updates
South Africa loses between R150-billion and R300-billion a year because ageing infrastructure, theft, and vandalism have left 16% of iron-ore, 12% of coal, and 24% of other export mining products...
In an opinion piece, real estate investment trust Redefine Properties national asset manager and development head Johann Nell noted that the transport and shipping narratives in South Africa are...
As South Africa’s freight system sits at a critical crossroads, with logistics costs estimated at between 11% and 12%, inefficiencies no longer just pose operational challenges, but create a direct...
The Draft National Rail Master Plan released by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy for public comment outlines an ambitious R2-trillion vision for repositioning South Africa’s underperforming rail...
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy reports that she intends seeking Cabinet approval for a new National Rail Bill during the 2026/27 financial year and that the Bill will aim to embed in legislation...
Infrastructure as an asset class plays a dual role in building the economy by reducing the costs of doing business and by directly contributing to the economy. For South African businesses to grow...
President Cyril Ramaphosa has proposed the establishment of a permanent ‘transport council’ to bring together government and the private sector across all the transport modes of land, air and sea....
The Department of Transport (DoT) will host its inaugural National Transport Conference (NTC) from March 16 to 18, 2026, in Johannesburg. This will take place under the theme “Transport: The Driver...
In this article, South African offgrid electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure developer Zero Carbon Charge co-founder and chairperson Joubert Roux writes about the renewed use of oil as a...
South Africa’s road, rail and port networks remain under strain, with each part of the system facing operational and infrastructure challenges. Roads continue to carry most freight as rail...
The construction works for the upgrade of the N2 and N3 freeways in KwaZulu-Natal – worth R19-billion for the N2 and R33-billion for the N3 – are on track for completion in 2032, says SANRAL...
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