Govt investing in road, rail infrastructure

Investment in the transport sector is part of South Africa's Nine-Point Plan to stimulate development and create jobs.

Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Jeff Radebe said this when he was briefing media yesterday on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

“As Transport Month unfolds, a number of key transport infrastructure projects and initiatives are being rolled out to better connect people and places, which is creating new jobs and changing the way South Africans travel,” he said.

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters officially launched the Transport Month Campaign on 1 October. This year Transport Month is hosted under the theme: “Together we move South Africa Forward.”

Government is investing in the transport sector which is part of the country’s NinePoint Plan to stimulate development and create jobs.

Investments in rail infrastructure is making rail the backbone of the country’s passenger and freight transport system.

Government has also embarked on one of the world’s biggest rail projects to overhaul passenger trains.

The new trains will operate with greater efficiency as they will carry more than 1 300 passengers and travel at a top speed of 160km/h.

Cabinet also approved the broad principles of the National Transport Master Plan 2050 (NATMAP) Synopsis Update Report.

This document is aligned to the National Development Plan and has the following strategic transport thrusts: long term planning and prioritisation, focusing on safety, reliability and affordability of transport, looking beyond transport as most inefficiencies and ills are the result of poor land use and planning, promoting behavioural change by changing the perception of public transport and a developmental and socially inclusive planning approach.

–SAnews.gov.za