Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has refuted claims made by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa that government planned to spend billions of rands on luxury high-speed trains across the country.

Holomisa made the claims during the weekend, when he told his party followers that the Transport Department planned to spend billions on “luxury speed trains” linking Johannesburg to Cape Town, Johannesburg to Durban and Johannesburg to Musina.

In a statement on Monday, Ndebele pointed out that not a cent has been spent on any high-speed rail project in South Africa, except the Gautrain.

“As the Department of Transport, our mandate is to provide, safe, efficient, reliable and affordable public transport. We wish to categorically state that, except for the Gautrain, to date not a cent has been spent on the roll-out of any high-speed rail project in South Africa,” he said.

Cabinet was yet to approve a comprehensive rail upgrade programme for the country. Such an approval would be followed by a process including feasibility study on the viability of high-speed rail, he said.

Ndebele added that as far back as 2005, through the National Transport Master Plan 2005-2050 (NATMAP), the department outlined several critical transport projects, including high-speed rail for Johannesburg to Durban, Johannesburg to Musina, and the Moloto Corridor between Tshwane and the former KwaNdebele in Mpumalanga.

“The Department of Transport intends to call for Expressions of Interest on high-speed rail in July 2011. In June 2011, we will also be hosting an Investors' Conference to consolidate the interest in our transport infrastructure projects, including high-speed rail,” he said.

– BuaNews