Story: National government has announced a new round of investment aimed at stabilizing the rail corridors between Mpumalanga and the Maputo Port. For towns like Sabie and Graskop, which are heavily involved in timber and agricultural exports, this move is seen as a vital step in reducing the number of heavy-duty trucks currently clogging the R532 and R37 provincial roads.
The Minister of Transport highlighted that the revitalization of rail infrastructure will not only lower logistics costs for local producers but also significantly reduce the wear and tear on the Lowveld’s road network. While the full implementation will take several months, the news has been welcomed by provincial business chambers. They argue that a reliable rail system is the missing link in making Mpumalanga’s commodities more competitive in the global market while making roads safer for tourists.