South Africa accelerates rail reform to win back freight
The government wants to allow private train operators and make Transnet compete more strongly on the freight network.
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South Africa wants to accelerate rail reform to provide the economy with reliable freight connections again. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says capacity has increased over the past two years, but implementing the reforms will still take years.
Creecy presented the plans during a transport webinar on 14 October. She said rail freight had increased by more than 20 million tonnes in two years. At the same time, the government wants to improve the network’s reliability, affordability and safety.
A key element is that private train operators will gain access to the network of state-owned company Transnet Freight Rail. According to the minister, eleven companies have been approved; they could begin operating from April 2027. Access to the network must be regulated by an independent economic regulator.
The reform is intended above all to improve connections between mining areas, agricultural regions, industry and ports. South Africa transports many raw materials and goods along the corridors to Durban and Cape Town. Delays and disruptions on those routes increase costs for businesses and limit exports.
The government says passenger rail is also making progress. According to figures cited during a meeting of the University of South Africa, 35 of the 40 priority passenger lines have been restored. The number of journeys on passenger operator PRASA rose, according to the same presentation, from about 10 million in 2020–2021 to 101 million in 2025–2026.
At the same time, those figures remain dependent on government investment, maintenance and better protection against theft and vandalism. Creecy stressed that the reforms must be enshrined in law so that a future government cannot easily reverse them.
For Dutch companies, the logistics aspect is particularly relevant. More reliable rail could improve the supply of minerals, agricultural products and industrial goods, but private access could also lead to new tariffs, investment and competition for capacity. The question is whether the state can provide sufficient infrastructure and oversight to make the market opening work.
The minister herself warned that rail reform cannot be completed quickly. The government wants to lay the foundations now, but acknowledges that comparable changes in other countries have sometimes taken decades.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- South Africa wants to give private train operators access to the freight rail network.
- The government reports growth in freight capacity and the restoration of passenger lines.
- Rail reform is intended to reduce transport costs and logistical bottlenecks.
- Implementation requires new regulation, oversight and investment.
Left
Arguments Rail is a basic public service and should not be focused exclusively on profitable mining corridors. The state must also protect passengers, remote regions and workers.
Values Public accessibility, workers’ rights and regional equality.
Consequences The left fears that private operators will choose the lucrative routes and leave public services behind.
Centre
Arguments A combination of public ownership, private operation and independent oversight can attract investment without abandoning public responsibility.
Values Reliability, efficiency and balance between the market and the state.
Consequences The centre emphasises that reforms will work only if access, safety and tariffs are regulated transparently.
Right
Arguments Competition and private investment are needed to make a state-owned company that performed poorly for years efficient again. The government’s main role should be to set rules and enforce performance.
Values Market forces, enterprise and budgetary discipline.
Consequences The right fears that too much political control will delay investment and allow the logistics crisis to continue.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The current statements by Minister Creecy and the developments cited concerning South African rail have been supported by several public sources. Forecasts about when private operators will start have been presented as expectations.
- confirmed The South African government wants to allow private train operators onto the freight rail network. — Mining Weekly describes Minister Creecy’s reform plans. source
- confirmed Eleven companies have been approved and can start from April 2027. — This is reported in the account of the ministerial webinar. source
- confirmed Freight capacity increased by more than 20 million tonnes in two years. — Creecy mentioned this during the webinar. source
- confirmed 35 of the 40 priority passenger lines have been restored. — The University of South Africa attributes this to Minister Creecy. source
- uncertain Rail reforms could affect international logistics. — This is an editorial analysis of the trade and port corridors mentioned, not an official impact report. source
Editor's note
The ministerial plans and the capacity estimates cited have been publicly reported by the government, the university and trade media. It remains uncertain how quickly the private operators will actually start and whether the infrastructure can handle the additional capacity.Sources
- Creecy says rail reforms on track as South Africa targets freight recovery — Mining Weekly
- South Africa’s transport recovery faces its toughest test — University of South Africa
- Minister Barbara Creecy: Africa Rail Convention — South African Government