Transportation in South Africa

  • South Africa: Steps Being Taken to Keep SAA Flying High

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2017/08/07 Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba says steps are being taken to address the challenges faced by South African Airways (SAA). Addressing Members of Parliament (MPs) at the Old Assembly Chamber in Parliament on Friday, the Minister said while the airline is faced with external market challenges, as is the case with other airlines, there were internal matters that SAA is looking at to bring stability in governance and to as well ensure the airline's liquidity is protected.
  • As it expands in Africa, Uber adapts to local markets and adopts cash payments

    BOTSWANA, 2016/07/24 While Uber continues its push into Africa the company is making allowances to local markets and testing incomparable service models users wouldn’t see in other parts of the globe. Anyone can presently use the mobile app to hail a car in 12 cities across South Africa, Nigeria,Uganda, Kenya, Morocco and Egypt…. And in all of those nations users can pay drivers in hard cash. The expansion, and adaptation to the realities of doing business on-the-ground in Africa, are in line with CEO Travis Kalanick’s commitment late last year to “a large push in Africa.”
  • Routes Africa forum aims to improve African air connectivity

    BOTSWANA, 2016/05/15  An event dedicated to the development of the African aviation industry will take place next month in Tenerife (26-28 June) to encourage the launch of new air services to, from and within the African continent. Routes Africa 2016 will help to improve African connectivity by bringing together airlines, airports and tourism authorities to discuss next air services. Around 250 route development professionals are expected to attend the forum which was founded ten years ago to stimulate increase in the industry.
  • South Africa: Safety Body Releases Report On Prasa's Afro 4000 Locomotives

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2015/12/15 A statement into the controversial Afro 4000 locomotives has confirmed that they are at times too high for South Africa's railway network, but shows they can still operate without causing any safety issues. The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) published its statement this week into the 13 locomotives imported from Spain by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) for R600m. The statement says that with the "exception of locomotive height limitations in certain areas of the network and subject to the highlighted conditions in this statement, the Prasa Afro 4000 series locomotives possess acceptable performance capabilities to operate in the South African network". Prasa was planning to buy 20 diesel Afro 4000 locomotives, plus an extra 50 hybrid ones from Vossloh Espana, for a total of R3.5bn.
  • Roads Safe for Children in Africa

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2015/10/10 Marking International Walk to School Day, Jean Todt, the United Nations Appropriate Envoy for Road Safety, has is calling for urgent action to halt road deaths and traffic accidents, which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), kill some 500 children a day. Mr. Todt's strong call to action as well herald's the release of a short film by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), where Mr. Todt as well serves as President, which is designed to promote children's road safety across the world. FIA joined forces with renowned filmmaker Luc Besson to produce the hard-hitting film, which is presently available online. "Road traffic crashes are today the number one killer of children aged 15-29. And without urgent action, they will any minute at this time be the number one killer of those aged between 5-14," said Mr. Todt.
  • South Africa: Airline Appoints First Female President

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2015/10/10 Skywise, the low-cost airline, announced the appointment of Faizal Motlekar and Tabassum Qadir as Co-Chairperson and President respectively. Motlekar, described as a leading South African and African entrepreneur, will jointly chair the position with J. Malik, who before shared the role with Qadir. "I am bringing to Skywise my vast experience with world perspectives in South African and African investment ", says Faizal Motlekar. Qadir noted her appointment to the position came at a time at the same time as a lot of people in South Africa wanted a female President.
  • South Africa: Prasa's Head of Engineering Quits

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2015/08/05 Prasa on Monday confirmed that its chief of engineering services, Daniel Mthimkhulu, has resigned. "Mthimkhulu was facing a disciplinary inquiry relating to gross dishonesty and fraudulent misrepresentation of his academic qualifications," Prasa spokesperson, Sipho Sithole, told Fin24. "Prasa will proceed with its criminal case brought against Mr Mthimkhulu," Sithole said.
  • The South African government intends to spend just over R34 billion on the development of the Moloto rail corridor.

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2014/10/06 The South African government intends to spend just over R34 billion on the development of the Moloto rail corridor. Initial estimates based on the findings of the feasibility study indicate that  R20 billion will be allocated toward a rapid rail service, R10 billion on rolling stock and an extra R4,5 billion to improve associated road infrastructure. Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters signed the project over to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) late last week.
  • South Africa’s rail firm Transnet has awarded a US$5-billion arrangement

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2014/03/18
  • South Africa’s Comair stops flying to Maputo, Mozambique

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2014/02/13 Comair, the South African airline that operated under a British Airways concession, has put an end to its flights between Johannesburg and Maputo, the company said in a statement issued Monday. The flights between OR Tambo International Airport and Maputo were launched in May 2013 but Iain Meaker, the airline’s commercial director, said that a decision had been made to end the route in order to ensure the company’s solvency.