Minister drives new vision

NEW START: CREECY SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON TRANSPORT, LOGISTICS AND MOBILITY IN SA

- Roy Cokayne

Sector is not operating as it should, she admits.

Minister of Transport Creecy Barbara stresses that an efficient and functioning transport sector is the key to a successful economy and that the new administration aims to comprehensively address the challenges facing it over the next five years.

"We all know today that our sector is not operating as an effective economic facilitator or social service," she told the Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) on Monday.

Creecy said the condition of South Africa's roads, logistical and capacity issues affecting the country's freight network and road safety were just a few of the problems that have plagued the sector in recent times.

"Our roads and rail network are the arteries of our nation. They should move people and goods safely, speedily and affordably across the length and breadth of South Africa, and facilitate our connectivity with the African continent and the wider world," she said.

Logistics

Creecy highlighted the importance of Transnet to SA's economy, adding that a significant development in the previous year had been the establishment of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cabinet's adoption of the Freight Logistics Roadmap.