Transnet looking to cross-border business

[John Ashworth]

TRANSNET LOOKING TO CROSS-BORDER BUSINESS

Railways Africa On April 10, 2012 In South Africa

Speaking at the Ernst & Young’s global Strategic Growth Forum Africa in Cape Town, Transnet chief executive Brian Molefe said talks had begun on developing the south-north rail corridor from South Africa through Zimbabwe and Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The route he said is “virtually unused”. Turning to the planned link through Swaziland to Mozambique, he said this was only a “first step.” On the subject of railway concessioning, Molefe said African countries found it hard to convince private equity players to commit to long-term investments of 15 to 20 years and therefore government and government-affiliated businesses had to be at the forefront of infrastructure investment and development. This explained the role Transnet sees itself playing.