The Department of Transport in South Africa has processed 162 formal responses from the private sector following a Request for Information (RFI) concerning rail and port projects. This initiative aims to revitalize the nation's rail and port systems. The responses encompass 51 submissions for the iron ore and manganese corridor, 48 for the coal and chrome corridor, and 63 for the container and automotive intermodal corridor.
In March 2025, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy introduced an online Request for Information to create a conducive environment for private sector engagement and to boost investment in rail and port infrastructure. "Creecy indicated in March 2025 that South Africa's rail and port infrastructure faces substantial challenges, including declining performance; theft and vandalism; under-investment, and operational inefficiencies. All of these hinder trade and economic growth," the department stated. The scarcity of state resources to fund infrastructure development has compounded these challenges, affecting the capacity of state-owned entities to meet their essential functions.
The government, alongside Transnet, has received a substantial number of unsolicited proposals from private entities, offering investment and expertise to support the rehabilitation and restructuring of the rail and port systems. This high level of interest underscores the need for the department and Transnet to engage comprehensively with the market before advancing to Requests for Proposals (RFPs). The department stated that the RFI portal on its website logged 11,600 visits, reflecting substantial interest. Responses were filed online via the Department of Transport's website, and due to extensive interest, the deadline was shifted from 9 May 2025 to 30 May 2025.
The department has started assessing the RFI responses, ensuring that all submitted data remains confidential and exclusively informs upcoming Private Sector Participation (PSP) projects. Further announcements related to any procurement programs in PSP projects are anticipated. In this initial phase, the RFI emphasizes certain corridors, including the Northern-Cape to Saldanha for iron ore and manganese, the Limpopo and Mpumalanga to Richards Bay for coal and chrome, and intermodal supply chain routes for the container and automotive industries from Gauteng to various ports such as Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Ngqura, and Cape Town. By July 2025, a subsequent RFI focusing on passenger rail initiatives is expected to be launched.
Source: SA News