The department of transport will require a radical overhaul to meet the challenges of a developing economy, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe admitted on Monday.
Briefing reporters in Cape Town, he said South Africa's capacity to deal with an ever-increasing trade environment was falling further and further behind.
Radebe identified problems relating to an "unreliable" rail system, a pressured road freight system and ports suffering from poor "throughput".
These had led to bottlenecks in the system which impacted negatively on investment in the country.
"The lack of point-to-point infrastructure, as well as out-dated managerial and operational systems have greatly increased the urgency of tackling this (bottleneck) problem as South Africa's capacity to deal with an ever-increasing trade environment falls further and further behind," Radebe said.
Moreover, the department of transport had a "serious shortage" of senior personnel across all divisions and sections.
"The department of transport needs to be over-hauled and its administrative sections reorganised to meet the challenges of a developing economy."
"This under-capacity of skills hampers the ability of the department to focus on its key role as a development-centred department," Radebe said.
In his state-of-the-nation address last Friday, President Mbeki told parliament that much needed to be done to accelerate the growth of the first and second economies.
Reducing the cost of production is crucial to Mbeki's deadline-driven plan, which also includes an emphasis on improving roads, ports and rail infrastructure.
Expanding on Mbeki's speech, Radebe said his department estimated the current maintenance backlog for commuter rail stood at about R15-billion.
"Experience shows that in general terms, rail passenger transport is haphazard, of a low service standard, and is grossly under-funded as far as the maintenance and provision of new infrastructure and security are concerned."
The challenges to ensure the country had proper transport by 2010 when it hosts the Soccer World Cup and to help the economy grow, was many and varied, Radebe said.
At a parliamentary media briefing on Monday it emerged that Radebe will be meeting South African Football Association (Safa) officials soon to discuss Fifa's requirements for the country to host the 2010 World Cup.
His spokesperson Miranda Strydom said he will soon be announcing a select committee of people who would oversee improvements to the public transport sector in time for soccer's premier event.
On the need to overhaul the department, Radebe said a new organogram had been finalised and would be put to parliamentary committees at the earliest opportunity.
Once-approved, staff would be found to create capacity.
"This will lead to a more streamlined and focused department, paying attention to transport issues in a strategic manner that allows for a core focus on key issues, the minister said."
A thorough review of the causes and consequences of the bottlenecks was already under way and would help identify what needed to be done and how.
Radebe said he was confident that a comprehensive logistics strategy and investment plan would be developed by November this year. - Political Bureau