According to the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci), if South Africa wishes to see growth in the county’s economy, the transport and logistics sector needs to be expanded.

“Many challenges in the transport sector exist and unique solutions are required to address bottlenecks and other impediments,” said Sacci CEO Neren Rau.

Rau’s statement came after a business breakfast held by Sacci and the transport department.

In attendance was transport director general George Mahlalela.

The objective of the breakfast was to discuss issues in the transport sector and to work our possible solutions.

Private sector participation would be necessary to raise an estimated R140bn required for road maintenance and upgrades – a truth acknowledged by the department, according to Rau.

Projects discussed at the breakfast included the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s (Prasa) modernisation process, the Moloto Rail Corridor, the coal haulage roads system in Mpumalanga, and the Durban-Gauteng Freight corridor, among others.

“Sacci especially welcomes the commitment made by the director general and his team to take an open door approach to business proposals and solutions by Sacci members,” Rau said.