South Africa’s Department of Transport, alongside state-owned freight operator Transnet, has launched an online Request for Information (RFI) to explore how the country can attract private investment across its freight networks. An official Request for Proposals will be launched in August 2025, as the country seeks to leverage private capital to strengthen its port and rail logistics.
This initiative comes as South Africa continues to grapple with rail and port infrastructure challenges, including declining performance, vandalism, theft, underinvestment and operational inefficiencies. The RFI aims to address these issues by identifying new ways to attract private sector investment in critical infrastructure and logistics projects.
“Together with Transnet, the government has received numerous unsolicited proposals from the private sector, offering investment, skills and expertise to support the rehabilitation and reform of our struggling rail and port systems. This overwhelming interest has made it clear to the department and Transnet that we must engage in broad and inclusive market research before issuing a request for proposals in August this year,” stated Barbara Creecy, Minister of Transport of South Africa.
According to the Minister, the RFI is not a formal procurement process, but rather a tool to gather information from the market.
“To ensure future requests for proposals are responded to, the government understands the importance of understanding the freight logistics landscape, through the perspective of interested and affected parties so that our solutions are both effective and sustainable.”
