Oversight conducted by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape to the once bustling railway station in Noupoort confirms that the national and provincial rail network has all but collapsed, taking with it the hope of growth and development needed to drive real job creation.
Noupoort’s historic station used to be one of the busiest in the country, receiving more than 85 trains daily and driving momentum toward local economic growth. Nowadays, it serves only as a change-over for diesel to electrical locomotives on the Bloemfontein line and the station is a quiet reminder of former economic opportunities. The beautiful buildings are dilapidated and the tiny handful of staff on the premises are only there to protect the railway tracks.
Regional economies like Noupoort are hamstrung by the lack of affordable railways in the country, as rail freight volumes plummeted from 226 million tonnes in 2017 to only 152 million tonnes in 2024. Reduced capacity damages business confidence, drives up prices, and contributes to job losses. Without reliable railways, trucks transporting goods have taken over roads designed for lighter vehicles.
We do not need to reinvent the wheel to reinvigorate our railways and to drive meaningful local economic growth. We need to speed up the concession of freight rail lines to capable private operators through transparent and competitive tendering processes that identifies the best partners for growth. We also need to modernise, upgrade and maintain rail infrastructure, with strict law enforcement to protect our essential infrastructure. This must go hand-in-glove with a comprehensive review of South Africa’s tariff regime to lower input costs for manufacturers and exporters must be implemented.
The time for endless talk is over. South Africa’s economy is in crisis, and it is time for urgent action to fix our economy and create jobs.