The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) hosted a Rail Industry Safety Workshop under the theme “Safety in motion: Raising the standards” on Tuesday, 4 November at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, attended by close to 200 rail industry stakeholders.

The session brought together representatives from across the rail sector to discuss key reforms introduced by the Railway Safety Act, 2024 (Act No. 30 of 2024) and to highlight the transformative potential of data-driven intelligence systems such as NIIMS NextGen in advancing safety oversight.

The workshop opened with input by the Chief Executive Officer of the RS, Mr Brian Monakli, who reiterated the RSR’s commitment to partnership, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.

“Safety is not a compliance exercise – it’s our collective responsibility to protect lives, assets, and the future of rail in South Africa”, he said. He further encouraged operators to join the Regulator on the journey to protect people and assets in the sector.

This was followed by a presentation on the Railway Safety Act, 2024, which officially replaces the National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 2002. The new legislation establishes a modern, proactive, and accountable framework that aligns South Africa’s rail safety governance with regional (SADC) and best international practices. It introduces several historic firsts, including the licensing of individuals in safety-critical grades, the creation of an independent Transport Appeal Tribunal, and the legal codification of the Regulator’s powers to enhance enforcement and transparency.

The speakers noted that the Act marks a decisive shift from reactive compliance to continuous, risk-based safety assurance, strengthening accountability among network, train, and station operators. Enhanced provisions for inspections, penalties, and data-driven monitoring will enable the Regulator to act more swiftly and effectively in addressing safety risks.

The workshop also featured a high-level CEO Panel Discussion that focused on aligning South Africa’s rail modernisation efforts with global trends. Three key themes emerged, including adopting global best practices for local application, SA’s infrastructure and skills challenges and building a road map for modernisation. 

In addressing South Africa’s infrastructure and skills challenges, panellists highlighted that theft, vandalism, and obsolete relay-based signalling systems continue to undermine reliability and safety. They called for investment in modern, cloud-based systems, development of local supply chains, and targeted skills programmes to build local engineering capacity for advanced rail technologies.

The workshop also reviewed national safety performance trends and highlighted encouraging progress among key operators. PRASA reported a 94% increase in commuter ridership and a reduction in safety occurrence rates by half, while Transnet Freight Rail achieved a 13% reduction in freight-related occurrences and growth in tonnage moved. Despite improvements, security-related incidents and public safety risks remain areas requiring intensified focus.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening safety culture, investing in modern technology, and promoting shared responsibility between operators, regulators, and the public.

Closing the session, the RSR reiterated that the Railway Safety Act, 2024 and NIIMS NextGen together represent a new era of intelligence-led, data-driven, and collaborative rail safety governance. The collective vision is clear: to ensure that South Africa’s rail system remains safe, reliable, and resilient — serving passengers, workers, and the broader economy with confidence.