BILATERAL PUTS RAIL-LINK BETWEEN NAMIBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA ON FAST-TRACK

Pretoria, 16 November 1999:

A high-level delegation lead by the Namibian Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Mr Oskar Valentin Plichta and South African Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Jeff Radebe today agreed to establish a task team and terms of reference for developing the rail links between the two countries. The bilateral was attended by officials from the two ministries, Namrail and Spoornet. The agreement reached at the bilateral could see a concrete plan of action on the table early next year to optimise and grow the rail-networks from De Aar to Namibia. This forms part of a greater plan to developing rail corridors between the two countries.

Minister Plichta said that it is in the interest of both countries "to bring people and freight back to the rails." He also highlighted the strategic importance that rail can play in contributing to relieving the situation on the roads by inter-alia improved road safety, reduced road maintenance cost and greater cost effectiveness of rail-freight.

Minister Radebe said that we must and will make this project succeed and give concrete expression to the political will expressed by Presidents Njoma and Mbeki when they met two months ago in Namibia. He said that the rail-link project is an expression of the friendly relations between Namibia and South Africa and would also demonstrate progress made in developing bilateral SADC relations. Minister Radebe said : "we have the will to make this happen, the task team must now roll up their sleeves and fast-track the job."

The task team includes the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication of Namibia, the South African Ministry of Public Enterprises and representatives of Namrail and Spoornet. The meeting agreed on the need to consult with and involve the Department of Transport, Department of Trade and Industry and other stakeholders in the work of the task team. The task team will be convened by the Department of Public Enterprises and its findings will be submitted to the various principals by end January 2000.

The terms of reference of this task team will be as follows:

  1. to promote the development of a rail corridor from South Africa to Namibia, with particular emphasis on the DeAar to Namibia network;
  2. to investigate inter-rail operational issues, including management options, towards the promotion of the envisaged cooperation of rail transport within SADC;
  3. to explore the creation of logistics products and services to the optimal benefit of the customers of both parties;
  4. to determine the feasibility or otherwise of joint marketing and other cooperation opportunities between Spoornet and Namrail;
  5. to recommend a governance protocol on the issues relating to the cooperation between the two entities;
  6. where necessary, to recommend the creation of legislation to facilitate the operationalisation of the corridor.

Minister’s Radebe and Plichta expressed their confidence that the process was now on track and will be brought to fruition.

Contact: Zaid Nordien
O82 453 6224
znordien@hotmail.com