RFA accuses Transnet of negligence amid Richards Bay chaos

It says the dire state of the network is putting immense pressure on public roads, stacking them with trucks. 

The association has been responding to Transnet's latest notice confirming the suspension of cargo brought into the Richards Bay port via road freight.

The state entity says the congestion on roads in the city has reached uncontrollable levels, posing a risk to road users. 

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RFA CEO Gavin Kelly says this suspension will impact exports and business operations.

"It’s no one wonder if these are the decisions taken by Transnet, who monopolises both the rail and the port networks that we are where we are today.

"The answer must be that we need to address the problem and those problems lie solely in this case at rail not doing what it should do and the inefficiencies at the port, the port was not built to take this sort of volume of road freight into it. There is no argument in terms of that."

Kelly says the RFA has a clear proposal, which is to give the ports and the railways to private sector to operate.

"The time has come for Transnet and those bits of important infrastructure to be handed over to the public sector, in terms of allowing a process of concession and privatisation so that the private sector can run an efficient, sustainable and reliable logistic system through our ports and into our global market to insure remain viable."