RFA: Cargo owners, manufacturers cannot be made scapegoats for state of roads
Road Freight Association CEO Gavin Kelly says the government should pay attention to the dire state of Transnet, specifically the railways and ports, before directing its ire to rail-friendly cargo on the roads.
Kelly says the lack of economic growth is largely due to the country’s dysfunctional railway network and inefficient ports.
The RFA has hit back at Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga's remarks that the transportation of rail-friendly cargo by trucks has had a devastating impact on the state of the country’s road network.
Speaking at the launch of October Transport Month in Johannesburg on Friday, Chikunga said her department has been in discussions with the private sector to assist the government in maintaining some of the country's roads.
Kelly says while the impact of the large number of heavy-duty trucks on the roads cannot be disputed, cargo owners, mines and manufacturing facilities should not be used as scapegoats.
"Yes, many roads were not designed for that number of massive vehicles, but you cannot now turn around and say those who are moving the goods must pay extra to fix the roads.
"That is the role of the government. That is why we have the fuel levy. That is why we pay taxes. The question is, where is all that money going?”
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