R30 billion infrastructure maintenance backlog at Transnet 

08 October 2014

Transnet has infrastructure maintenance backlogs amounting to close to R30 billion, according to a reply to a DA parliamentary question. 

The breakdown of the backlogs is as follows:

Pipelines - R5 million;

Port Terminals - R349 million;

Freight Rail (rolling stock) - R907 million;

Signaling - R11.7 billion;

Rail Yards - R2.4 billion;

Communication systems - R37 million;

Rail Tracks - R13.9 billion; 

Only R1.1 billion has been "included in plans" by the Department of Public Enterprises to reduce some of these backlogs. 

But there are currently no plans in place to reduce backlogs associated with signaling, rail yards and rail tracks.

President Jacob Zuma and various Cabinet Ministers have repeatedly made claims about the importance of infrastructure development in South Africa, but the degradation of Transnet's infrastructure tells a very different story.

Through the delivery of thousands of tons of goods on a daily basis, Transnet keeps the economy moving.

Any further deterioration of Transnet's infrastructure could severely affect South Africa's ability to create jobs and grow the economy

In order to resolve the infrastructure backlogs at Transnet, the DA believes that:

All rail-related passenger and freight services should become the direct responsibility of the Minister of Transport;

Rail operations should be transferred to the private sector through privatisation and concessions;

A Railway Police Service should be established to curb crime and vandalism on trains and at train stations; and

Port operations should be privatised, leased, or concessioned.

Transnet must not be allowed to decline any further as backlogs grow and infrastructure fails.

Statement issued by Phumzile Van Damme MP, DA member on the Public Enterprises Portfolio Committee, October 8 2014

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