Minister Creecy Outlines Rail and Logistics Reforms in 2025 Transport Budget Vote
In her 2025 Department of Transport Budget Vote speech, Minister Barbara Creecy reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforming South Africa’s transport sector, particularly rail and logistics, as critical enablers of economic recovery and inclusive growth. She outlined six key targets for the current political term, including moving 250 million tonnes of freight on the Transnet network and achieving 600 million annual passenger rail journeys by 2030.
The Minister confirmed that PRASA had successfully revived 35 out of 40 rail corridors and recorded 77 million passenger journeys in the last financial year, with a target of 116 million in 2025/26. A total of R66.1 billion has been allocated over the medium term to rebuild infrastructure, renew signalling, and increase rail capacity.
On the freight side, Creecy reiterated that strategic rail and port infrastructure will remain publicly owned. She highlighted the implementation of the National Rail Policy and Freight Logistics Roadmap, including the establishment of the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) and the Interim Rail Economic Regulatory Capacity (IRERC) to enable open access, increase competition, and attract private investment. A Request for Proposals on five priority corridors will be issued from August 2025.
She also reported that the Transnet War Room had yielded tangible results, with a 54.28% increase in port volumes, a 9-million-tonne rise in rail tonnage, and 48,000 additional containers handled year-on-year.
Minister Creecy reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to safety, climate resilience through a revised Green Transport Strategy, formalisation of the taxi industry, and improved oversight of its 16 public entities under a new accountability model.
Read the full speech here: Budget-SPEECH-2025-BY-THE-MINISTER-OF-TRANSPORT-FINAL-embargoed-1