National Railway Policy White Paper aims to address Prasa capacity challenges: Mbalula

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has launched the National Railway Policy White Paper in Pretoria.

The policy document outlines how passenger and cargo rail will be rolled out and managed.

FULL SPEECH: National Rail Policy White Paper.

The Policy seeks to address the challenges faced by & position the rail sector as the backbone of South Africa’s national land transport. pic.twitter.com/5JbenUUgnU

— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) May 9, 2022

It seeks to address capacity challenges in which the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) cannot run services, by introducing private sector participation through railway infrastructure investment.

Mbalula says the policy is critical for fast-tracking the implementation of priority structural reforms to support economic recovery.

“ The private sector with the gazetting of this is already calling, ready to move fast and furious. You are going to see work in the branch lines; we are talking from Mafikeng down to Johannesburg, from Botshabelo to Thaba’Nchu. All the branch lines that were dead, concessions and all tha,t there’s going to be a hype of activity.”

This Framework will aim to guide the collaboration between the major SOEs and private sector companies to deliver new economic infrastructure. The pursuit of PSP should not be construed as the privatisation of the South African Railways, as there is no such policy on the table. pic.twitter.com/u1zCQsseIR

— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) May 9, 2022

In Conclusion, giving practical expression to the objectives of the White Paper on National Rail Policy requires of us to pay particular attention to skills development and growing the requisite capacity in the country. pic.twitter.com/WaE4UmqMxH

— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) May 9, 2022