TRANSPORT
GAUTRAIN POWERS ECONOMIC GROWTH
BY OLEBOGENG MANHE, CHAIRMAN OF THE GAP INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION( GIC)
THE GAUTRAIN EXPANSION PROMISES FASTER TRAVEL, MORE JOBS AND STRONGER CONNECTIONS ACROSS GAUTENG.
Critics of the R120 billion Gautrain expansion project often point to its cost, especially with so many demands on provincial budgets. But this overlooks the bigger picture – that long-term infrastructure investments like this are essential to breaking a cycle of shortterm fixes, laying the groundwork for the kind of economy we want the next generation to inherit.
Despite being the smallest province, Gauteng remains the country’ s economic engine. Home to one in every four South Africans, it is also the most populous province, and, with accelerating migration and urbanisation rates, one of the most congested.
Consequently, traffic is an issue of growing concern. A draft report by the Gauteng Management Agency indicates that based upon current trajectories, average road speeds could slow to 10km / h by 2037. Furthermore, official planning documents indicate that even with all planned road infrastructure improvements, commuters could still face a 122 % increase in travel time by 2050 if we continue to primarily rely on road-based solutions.
Widening highways and adding more lanes may provide temporary relief, but will not solve the problem. The Gautrain’ s planned expansion is a crucial step in the right direction – one that looks 20 years ahead, shifts people from road to rail,
40 INBOUND SA / December 2025