SOUTH AFRICAN ROAD-RAIL POLICY
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" THE railways and the roads are partners in the nation's transport set-up. There is still some leeway to be made up in establishing a larger measure of co-ordination between the two forms of transport," Mr. D. H. C. du .Plessis, general manager of South African railways, has stated. He added that good use of the roads was economically desirable, but could be carried too far.
South African agriculture has had a record year, but there has been a transport shortage because of delays in the supply of equipment to the railways. The South African Government have accordingly relaxed the Motor Carrier Transportation Act to allow more goods to be conveyed by road.
There are 1,271 railway-owned road vehicles and 1,105 trailers in operation: they earn over £4m. a year. Services cover 27,000 miles and penetrate to most isolated parts of the country.