By: Buhle Mbhele
President Cyril Ramaphosa has reported significant growth in the freight industry, highlighting a 5.5% increase recorded in the past year.
He says progress is being made, noting that Transnet’s revenue increased to R82 billion in the 2024/25 financial year, representing an 8% rise compared with the 2023/24 financial year.
Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the National Transport Conference in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, on Monday.
The president says the growth signals improvement in reducing freight backlogs and increasing port volumes across the country’s logistics network. He adds that strengthening freight rail and port operations is critical to boosting trade, improving supply chains and supporting South Africa’s economic recovery.
Ramaphosa also emphasised ongoing efforts to stabilise and modernise Transnet, which manages the country’s rail, port and pipeline infrastructure. The state-owned company has faced operational challenges in recent years, including infrastructure constraints, equipment shortages and security issues such as cable theft, which have affected freight movement and export capacity.
According to the government, reforms and investment in logistics infrastructure are aimed at improving efficiency at major ports and expanding freight rail capacity, particularly for key export sectors such as mining and agriculture.
