Unpaid debts must be addressed - Spoornet RAIL SERVICES between South Africa and the recently formed Democratic Republic of Congo which are provided by Spoornet, and which were threatened with a stoppage order at the end of December, have been extended until the end of June this year.
This follows eleventh hour negotations between Spoornet and SNCC, the rail company of the former Zaire.
Spoornet had intended to cut off rail transport in protest over more than R200 million in unpaid debts, and the detention of Spoornet director Patrick Claes in Kinshasha last August.
SNCC have accepted Spoornet's conditions to address the outstanding debt, and rail communications will continue until a new contract has been signed and the debt matter cleared up, says Spoornet spokesperson Rina Wessels.
A previous debt of R136 million has had a further, and more recent R68 million added to it.
In mid-December Spoornet executive director Mafika Mkwanazi stated that an agreement had been reached with the new government in the Congo to develop strategies within six months to settle its debts, but up to that stage it had not shown any willingness to recognise the debt. As a result, Spoornet had given it until end December to settle or have the service suspended.
The Congo's mining industry which relies on rail freight services to provide it with fuel and acid products, would have been the most affected part of the economy.
