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The deaths of innocent school children, regular road users and two essential service personnel in truck accidents this week gives further impetus to the immediate implementation of government’s proposed third-party freight rail access policy.

By moving freight from road to rail, our roads will be freed of massive trucks that cause havoc to life and limb, says Mesela Nhlapo, CEO of the African Rail Industry Association (ARIA).

Nhlapo says the huge number of trucks on South African roads increases the probability of people being killed in accidents, such as the ones this week, and fatalities can be greatly reduced by moving freight to the country’s rail network.

According to the latest StatsSA research, less than a fourth of all freight moving around the country is transported by rail. This has implications for road safety and the general state of road surfaces.

“We have a plan in place. Government has agreed to allow third party private rail operators onto the rail network. This has to be implemented according to National Rail Policy. 

“We have been instrumental in lobbying the government to develop policies and regulations to enable this important evolution in rail policy. Its adoption after 14 years of extensive consultations is a key milestone with the support of Operation Vulindlela. Opening the rail network to private operators is key to the government’s economic reconstruction and recovery plan as it will promote investments and creates an equal level playing field for all players in the industry. 

“Rail is an enabler of economic growth. The lack of rail capacity is causing significant and unnecessary damage to the South African economy. Rail reform represents an opportunity for investment, competitiveness, growth, and jobs,” she says.

Nhlapo says if government and its entities are not aligned on this issue, third-party access will remain a plan only. “We urge President Cyril Ramaphosa to issue an executive order instructing Transnet to implement third-party access fully.”

The National Development Plan identifies the improvement of public services as critical to achieving transformation. Through structural reform we will be able to deliver on the objectives of the NDP, including but not limited to poverty alleviation and inequality.

By striving towards the objectives of the NDP, third-party access will achieve transformation through the improvement of public services by drawing on the energies of South African peoples’ capabilities, enhancing the capacity of the state, and promoting leadership and partnership throughout society.

Parents should never have to bury their child – the human heart was not designed for such heartbreak. As the President calls for investigation on the cause of this accident, we call on industry to investigate the cost of such a tragedy and work towards tangible solutions that transform the industry, protect our entrenched basic rights, and mitigate such loss.

Issued by CEO of the African Rail Industry Association (ARIA). Mesela Nhlapo