South Africa’s passenger rail network is showing signs of recovery after years of decline, while the government is pushing ahead with reforms aimed at revitalising freight rail and modernising the country’s transport system.
However, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has warned that years of underinvestment in logistics infrastructure continue to pose a risk to the country’s economy, with neighbouring countries increasingly positioned to benefit from South Africa’s weaknesses.
Delivering the opening address at the 2026 Southern African Transport Conference on Monday, Creecy said the government’s transport reform programme is focused on rebuilding rail, improving freight movement, embracing digital transformation, and supporting the country’s energy transition.
She cautioned, however, that transport inefficiencies have consequences that extend far beyond the sector itself.
“These disruptions ripple through passenger journeys, freight movements, and the efficiency of supply chains that support our economy. When transport faces disruption, market efficiencies are compromised, and the sector’s capacity to add value to goods, to jobs, and to social well-being is undermined,” she said.
