The South African Road Federation (SARF) welcomes the statement by Transnet’s Chief Executive Mr Brian Molefe that extensive investment is to be made, at a cost of R205 billion, in an attempt to win freight traffic back from road hauliers on the busiest freight corridor in South Africa, the Durban to Johannesburg route.  Whilst rail is better suited than road for the conveyance of large volumes of bulk goods, in general throughout the world most of general freight is moved on road and SARF points out that Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) will have to considerably improve its service to win back large volumes of general goods, including containers.  In the end, in the absence of restrictive legislation, the decision regarding the mode of transport of freight is that of the shippers and even with the commendable efforts of TFR the N3 will always be under considerable stress from heavy vehicles.

The effective functioning of this corridor is one of the Strategic Infrastructure Projects identified by the Presidential Planning Commission and for that reason, as well as the congestion and damage to road pavements currently occurring on the N3, this move by TFR is welcomed.

Unfortunately large infrastructure improvements such as this take time to bring to fruition – Mr Molefe mentions seven years for the rail improvements.  During this time the number of freight vehicles using the N3 will probably have doubled, at the current rate of growth, and even if TFR succeeds in its plans to win back considerable volumes of freight traffic, road conditions on the N3 will remain intolerable.

For this reason SARF calls on the road authorities to also undertake extensive capacity, and consequently safety improvements to this road.  Even with relief to operational conditions which might occur through the rail initiative, such a facility merits serious consideration, especially in the light of the fact that transport costs, which constitute a significant part of total production costs.

An obvious problem which might arise is the financial resources available to the road authorities for its provision.  However as one, and perhaps amongst the most important of the Presidential Planning Commission’s projects, additional investment on this route as part of the major acceleration in infrastructure spending announced by government, should be promoted to resolve the problem.

It is SARF’s viewpoint that both extensive improvements to the ability of rail to contribute to the freight demands on this corridor, and infrastructure upgrades on the N3 are necessary if the Durban to Johannesburg corridor is to operate optimally for the movement of goods in the future. South Africa is probably the only country in the world where the industrial heartland is located 600 km. from its major port. 

Ms. Logashri Sewnarain

President SARF

Enquiries:

Dr. Malcolm Mitchell
For South African Roads Federation (SARF)
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Cell: 083 460 0353