South Africa's modern transport system plays an important role in the national economy and also in the economies of several other African states. A number of countries in southern Africa use the South African transport infrastructure to move their imports and exports. Transport in South Africa is coordinated by the Department of Transport which determines policy and sets guidelines for the industry.
Transnet, the national carrier, consists of six businesses - a railway system (Spoornet), a service provider in the parcel market (PX), a road transport service (Autonet), part support services (Portnet), South African Airways (SAA) and pipelines for the conveying of petroleum products (Petronet). Transtrade (Pty) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Transnet Limited, is the internal marketing arm of the Transnet Group.
The task of the Department of Transport is to ensure that the necessary consultation concerning policy, legislation and administration takes place between national and provincial governments. The South African Roads Board (SARB) is responsible for planning, designing and constructing national roads.
The 1993 Constitution allocates legislative and executive powers in respect of public transport to the provinces. The Reconstruction and Development Programme emphasises that commuters should be encourage to use public transport and regards the needs of women, children and disabled people for affordable and safe transport as very importance.
It is the view of the Department of Transport that transport policy on urban transport must be implemented as close to the communities as possible. The Urban Transport Act, 1977 (Act 78 of 1977), was therefore transferred to the provinces. In urban areas, passenger road transport services are provided by local authorities, private bus companies and by minibus taxis. the taxis have achieved phenomenal growth during the last few years and provide a vital service to approximately 50 percent of commuters.
Leading operations, organisations, suppliers and manufactures of coaches have agreed on the need to introduce a coach grading system. The Southern African Bus Operators Association established a Tour, Charter and Intercity Coach Operators Committee improve the standard of coaches and services in the tour, charter and intercity coach industry.
Road transport accounts for roughly 8 percent of all freight being transported by land. The Transport (Coordination) Amendment Act, 1977 (Act 73 of 1977), distinguishes between two categories of hauliers - professional freight carriers, who convey goods by public road for reward, and ancillary hauilers, who transport their own goods or the goods of their customers in the normal course of their trade or industry.
The rail network falls under the control of Spoornet and the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC). Spoornet provides rail transport mainly for goods and containers, but also transport for passengers travelling long distances between major cities. The SARCC is responsible for providing commuter services in the six major urban centres in the country.
Spoornet promotes exports or imports and services both locally and internationally. With its policy of encouraging people to travel by rail, Spoornet's Mainline Passenger Services division is going all out to meet the requirements of passengers. The Blue Train, South Africa's world-renowned luxury train, has tended so successful that operations have been extended to the game park region of Mpumalanga. It now also operates a new cross-border service to the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. There are several semi-luxury trains in operation in South Africa. Spoornet operates an extensive door-to-door container service to over 700 destinations in South Africa and Namibia, and also transports containers to various neighbouring sates.
The South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) is responsible for the management of all rail commuter services in South Africa. The SARCC's business consists of all the rail commuter infrastructure - including stations and properties - services, and the rolling stock which carries approximately 2 million commuter passengers daily. The corporation falls under the control of the Minister of Transport.
The Airports Company is responsible for the planning, construction and operation of state airports. The company operates nine state airports, namely in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth, George and Upington. The airport outside Johannesburg and those of Durban and Cape Town are classified as international airports.
South African Airways (SAA) provides an extensive network of air services between all major centres in South Africa, between Johannesburg and some neighbouring countries, and between South Africa and major cities abroad. A number of private airlines now also operate in South Africa. A total of seven South African airlines operate internationally. Some 19 feeder airlines operate about 200 routes in the country. Charter air services are available in all the larger cities and towns.
The control of civil aviation is vested in the Minister of Transport. The Chief Directorate: Civil Aviation Authority assesses the design and construction of aircraft, and the maintenance necessary to ensure continued airworthiness. This chief directorate provides air traffic services throughout the country. Powers relating to airports other than national and international airports, have been placed in the hands of the provinces by the 1993 Constitution. Provinces may therefore decide to develop new airports. However, the Department of Transport will continue to play an important role in coordinating initiatives by different provinces and will also continue its role of licensing airports in terms of international conventions.
During 1994, the Transnet Board of Directors approved recommendations that Portnet should be split into two autonomous entities within Transnet Limited, namely Port Management Division's main functions are to provide and maintain basic port infrastructure, optimise land use, and plan strategic infrastructure. It will also ensure navigational safety within the port and ensuring quality cargo-handling productivity and ship turn-around. The Port Operations Division will deal with the provision and maintenance of superstructures - quay cranes, forklift trucks and cargo sheds, and will also ensure effective operation by maintaining guaranteed cargo throughputs and service standards.
Portnet offers all port services, except stevedoring and cartage of breakbulk cargo at Durban. Durban can accommodate deep-sea ro-ro vessels and has five deep-sea and two container berths, and repair facilities. Privately owned bulk storage and handling facilities for various products are provided in the port. The Ben Schoeman dock in Cape Town has five berths for container handling as well as a pier for coastal ro-ro traffic. The dock has comprehensive ship-repair facilities. The bulk of South Africa's fruit exports are handled here. Port Elizabeth has an enclosed water area of about 115 ha, and more than 3400 m of quayage alongside for commercial shipping. In additions, anchorage is available for vessels of any draught in a partly sheltered roadstead. East London, the only river port in South Africa, has nearly 2600 m of commercial quayage with low-water depths alongside varying from 8,5 m to 10,7 m. Tankers with an overall length of 204,2 m and a maximum loaded draught of 9,9 m can be accommodated at the tanker berth.
Saldanha Bay was developed primarily for the export of iron ore from Sishen in the Northern Cape province. Anchorage is provided in the lee of the breakwater where the minimum water depth is 14,6 m at chart datum. Other facilities include a general purpose quay with a depth alongside of 12 m at chart datum, a tug port and navigational aids. Richards Bay was developed to handle bulk cargoes such as bituminous coal and anthracite. This deepwater port can accommodate vessels of up to 200000 t.
The aims of the Chief Directorate: Shipping of the Department of Transport are to enhance and maintain the safety of life and property at se, and to prevent pollution of the sea by oil and other substances emanating from ships. The South African Marine Corporation (Safmarine) and Unicorn are the country's largest shipping lines. Their fleet if vessels provides services between South African ports and the major ports of the world.
The first petroleum products pipeline in South Africa was completed in 1965 and the first consignment of oil was delivered from Durban to Johannesburg during the same year. The service is provided by Petronet.
The Chief Directorate: Civil Aviation of the Department of Transport
is responsible for coordinating the country's search and rescue
organisation and for providing secretariat services. The function
of the South African Search and Rescue Organisation (SASAR) is
to search for, assist an, if necessary, rescue survivors of aircraft
accidents or forced landings, vessels in distress and survivors
of sea accidents. It is also charged with coordinating the various
government departments, voluntary organisations, private aircraft
and shipping companies in the field of search and rescue, and
with formulating policy and procedures.
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