In her opening address at last week’s annual Southern African Transport Conference (SATC), Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, highlighted the need for an integrated multi-modal transport system throughout southern Africa.

She added that the rail industry in South Africa had been dormant for almost a century.

“We are aware that infrastructure development is directly linked to economic growth and social development. Ports, rail and road infrastructure investment is needed on the continent, to promote intra-regional trade,” she said.

The minister noted that intra-regional trade with member states of the African Union accounted for just 12% of trade. In comparison, the European Union boasted intra-regional trade of 80%.

“Transport drives globalisation and allows countries to compete effectively in global markets,” she said.