Cape town: The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) is expected to receive almost R31 billion this year to maintain, rehabilitate, upgrade, and expand the road network.
According to South African Government News Agency, these funds will be used for capital expenditure on the non-toll network, the Gauteng Freeway Improvement project operations, the N2 Wild Coast route for ongoing construction on major bridges, new road sections on national highways, and the development of the Moloto Road corridor, as stated by Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy in Parliament. The Minister was tabling the Department of Transport's R102 billion Budget Vote, aimed at building a transformed, inclusive, and competitive transport system that serves commuters, freight operators, and export industries.
Creecy noted the infrastructure projects are expected to improve road safety, shorten travel distances, and create more than 35,000 job opportunities while supporting over 2,000 small enterprises. She emphasized that investment in public infrastructure projects is a significant catalyst for job creation and economic development. However, she raised concerns about ongoing challenges at provincial and municipal levels, where funding and in-house technical capacity for road maintenance often remain inadequate. Since 2013, provincial governments have transferred 13,000 kilometers of provincial roads to SANRAL for management and maintenance. Creecy cautioned that this is not a sustainable long-term strategy and could ultimately impact SANRAL's ability to maintain the National Road Network without introducing widespread tolling.
To address this issue, the government plans to convene a joint meeting between the National Treasury and the Department of Transport through the Minister and MECs (MINMEC) forum to explore mechanisms to frontload the Provincial Road Maintenance Grant, enabling provinces to upgrade priority roads sooner.
The revitalization of the passenger rail system is also gaining momentum, with yearly passenger journeys surpassing 100 million at the end of March 2026. Creecy highlighted a sixfold increase over four years, reflecting investment in infrastructure, rolling stock, security, and institutional reform. In Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, efforts are underway to increase train frequencies, improve security, reduce vandalism, and ensure connectivity for communities previously excluded from reliable transport services.
A Request for Information (RFI) process for passenger rail was launched to gauge the appetite for investment in rapid regional rail, depot modernization, rolling stock leasing, automated fare collection, and optic fiber installation. With current fiscal shortages, discussions with the National Treasury are ongoing to conclude restoration of outstanding priority lines. Creecy reiterated the importance of integrating effective passenger rail systems with other modes of transport to ensure safety and efficiency.
The government is also reviewing the proposed Road Accident Fund Bill to reduce contingent state liability through the introduction of a no-fault system and a standardized injury compensation framework. The Road Accident Fund, responsible for compensating and rehabilitating people injured in motor vehicle accidents within South Africa, faces mounting pressure due to a backlog of claims, legal challenges, and severe financial constraints linked to the country's high rate of road accidents. The government is exploring a hybrid funding model combining private and public contributions to reduce pressure on the fiscus. Creecy stressed that road safety is a national crisis, noting that last year South Africa lost over 11,418 lives on its roads, one of the worst rates globally.