The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) officially released its Annual State of Safety Report (ASoSR) for the 2024/25 reporting period during a live broadcast on CNBC Africa earlier today. This landmark report provides a candid and comprehensive assessment of the critical safety challenges facing South Africa’s rail network.
During the live panel discussion, RSR CEO Brian Monakali was joined by the CEOs of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), and the Group CEO of PRASA. The dialogue centred on the rail safety achievements, challenges and opportunities for the year 2024/25.
The ASoSR is a statutory requirement under the National Railway Safety Regulator Act No.30 of 2024, offering a rigorous, data-driven analysis of the sector’s performance. The 2024/25 period recorded 9,200 safety-related occurrences, a 7.2% decrease from the previous year. However, this positive trend is tempered by a 10.9% rise in operational safety incidents, which now sit 10.1% above the five-year average. These incidents are primarily driven by infrastructure deterioration and signalling failures.
Notably, fatalities fell to 81, the lowest in five years, while injuries climbed to 336, which accounts for the highest in the same period. The top five operational occurrences were collisions, derailments, fires, pantograph hook-ups, and incidents involving persons struck by trains. Most derailments occurred at low speeds in yards, sidings and port terminals. Fires were linked to veld conditions and electrical faults, and a number of collisions involved stray animals or vehicles on tracks. A sharp increase in pantograph hook-ups revealed heightened vulnerability of electrical infrastructure, often tied to theft and asset degradation.
Security-related incidents dominate the safety landscape, accounting for 70% of all reported occurrences. While asset theft declined by 17%, personal safety concerns, crowd-related disruptions and vandalism remain persistent threats. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of incidents, with Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape collectively accounting for the majority of fatalities and injuries.
Despite these challenges, the period also saw notable achievements:
- PRASA recorded a 94% increase in ridership, driven by its Rail Corridor Recovery Programme and the re-signalling of the Mabopane corridor, a flagship infrastructure upgrade.
- TFR showed modest recovery in freight movement.
- Gautrain maintained steady demand despite a minor drop in ridership
To address systemic risks, the RSR conducted a significant number of inspections and audits, issued enforcement directives to several operators and launched targeted investigations, including a Board of Inquiry into the Hammarsdale–Georgedale collision. These actions underscore the Regulator’s commitment to proactive oversight, accountability, and sector-wide recovery.
“The ASoSR is not just a regulatory requirement, it’s a call to action. A safe, secure and reliable railway system is central to South Africa’s economic recovery and inclusive growth. Addressing these challenges demands urgent collaboration, innovation and investment across the sector,” said Brian Monakali, CEO of the RSR.
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