Cronin: Improve transport to aid jobless

Johannesburg - High transport costs are a barrier to a large portion of SA's unemployed looking for work, said Deputy Transport Minister Jeremy Cronin on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Africa Rail Conference, Cronin said at least 12% of the unemployed cannot afford transport fares.

The problem is worst in rural areas and smaller towns. In Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape the unemployment rate is between 70% to 80%, indicating just how big a barrier lack of affordable transport is to the unemployed who live far from South Africa's economic hubs.

"So, there are important reasons to champion rail in South Africa," said Cronin.

It is imperative that South Africa invest in transport infrastructure to reduce production costs, increase trade and grant access to communities living far away from economic hubs, he said.

South Africa's rail networks are severely underdeveloped. The consequences are congestion, higher greenhouse gas emissions, damage to road networks and an increase in road fatalities and serious injuries which costs the country R50bn a year. 

"Over the last few years we have seen a growing commitment from the government to seriously turn around the rail situation," said Cronin.

"We are in the process of moving towards a major 18-year recapitalisation of our Metrorail rolling stock and signaling equipment," he said.

Transnet also has plans for major improvements on SA's freight lines.

 - Fin24