The engineering unit of South Africa’s State-owned logistics utility Transnet is actively pursuing R3-billion-worth of possible rolling-stock contracts across Africa, notwithstanding a weakened rail investment climate precipitated by a decline in commodity prices. Speaking at the official launch of the reinstatement of a Botswana passenger rail service, which will use 37 coaches designed and manufactured in South Africa, Transnet Engineering CEO Thamsanqa Jiyane said the group was hoping to take advantage of the weaker rand as it sought to market its locomotives, wagons and coaches across the continent.
