JOHANNESBURG - Transnet has given 11 private firms permission to operate trains on the country’s freight rail network.
Grinrod, Minrail, Menar and Barberry are among the companies that have succeeded in being granted concessions.
For years rail was on the decline in South Africa and volumes plummeted.
The reform including the granting of licences to private operators is aimed at easing bottlenecks and boosting growth.
Mines have struggled to move commodities to port with the disruptions affecting various other industries as well.
The privat operators will access 41 routes and six corridors used to move coal, chrome, fuel and other goods.
Some will start operations this year while others will do so next year.
In the last financial year Transnet Freight Rail moved about 160 million tons of goods.
By 2030 the entity plans to lift this to 250 million tons.