South Africa has a well-developed and extensive transport industry which is important to the economy of the country and region. There is a well-developed rail system; several major container terminals; a reasonably well-developed national road network; many airports and a number of busy ports.
People are transported privately or by aeroplane, train, bus or minibus taxis. Goods are transported by road, air, rail, or ship.
In the late 1990s, the government initiated the creation of a number of toll-roads. Many of the toll-roads were privately funded and will be privately owned and operated until the operating period expires, whereon the road will revert to government ownership. The South African government is realising the need for private sector involvement in the development of the country’s transport system.
In March 1997, the South African Ministry of Transport announced that the Government would no longer subsidise public transport. However, they added that they would allow tenders for contracts to operate public transport services. The government would monitor the quality and affordability of the services. Privately owned minibus-taxis provide public transport for more than half of South Africa’s commuters.
Rail transport falls under the authority of Spoornet and the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC). Spoornet caters mainly for goods but also provides long distance transport for passengers. In 1999, the organisation showed signs that it intended focussing on its core business of freight transportation. The SARCC provides short distance commuter services in 6 of the main urban centres in the country. Spoornet also operates the Blue Train; believed to be among the most luxurious in the world, however, in 1999 the organisation announced plans to privatise the train to focus on core business.
Metrorail currently operates the commuter services. Its key aim has been to provide a social service to economically disadvantaged travellers. As a result the organisation does not cover its costs, and relies on a state subsidy equivalent to 70% of operating costs. In the late 1990s, government announced plans to allow public and private operators to bid for the rights to operate rail lines and services. All Metrorail routes will be up for tender again in 2004.
There are a few international airports in South Africa; however, there are a large number of other airports in the country. Major South African airlines are SAA, Comair, African Star, Sun Air, SA Express and SA Airlink. International airlines operating in South Africa include Aero Zambia, Aeroflot, Arolineas Argentinas, Air Afrique, Air Austral, Air Botswana, Air France, Air Gabon, Air Madagascar, Air Malawi, Air Mauritius, Air Namibia, Air Seychelles, Air Tanzania, Air Zimbabwe, Airlink, Alitalia, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Balkan, British Airways, Cameroon Airways, Care Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Commercial Airways, Egyptair, El Al, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Ghana Airways, Gulf Air, Iberia, Kenya Airways, LAM, Lesotho Airways, LTU, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Martin Air, Metavia Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Olympic Airways, Quantas, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Swazi Airways, Sabena, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Swissair, TAAG, TAP, Uganda Airlines, United and Virgin Atlantic.
South Africa has the best-equipped and most efficient ports in Africa. They serve both as areas of entry and exit from South Africa but also to and from the continent. Portnet, a division of Transnet, operates 16 of South Africa’s ports. In 1999 the organisation was split into operational and port authority organisations.
Petronet, also a subsidiary of Transnet, owns, maintains and operates a network of 3 000 km of high-pressure petroleum and gas pipelines.
