Gautrain Debt Cleared as Province Takes Full Ownership

Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has confirmed that the Gautrain will be handed over to the provincial government as a fully paid asset at the end of March 2026.

The 16-year-old, 80-kilometre rapid rail system was developed as a public-private partnership (PPP), jointly managed by government and a private concessionaire.

Maile announced that the Gauteng government has now settled its portion of the Gautrain debt, paving the way for the province to assume full ownership of the multibillion-rand infrastructure asset.

“When we built Gautrain, we spent R26 billion. Today, it’s worth anything between R45 billion and R53 billion. So that’s the power of public-private partnerships,” Maile said.

He added that expansion plans for the rail network remain firmly on the agenda.

“By the end of March, through the Premier, we will announce the preferred bidder for the new concession. The process is at an advanced stage, and we are pleased that Gautrain is one of the PPPs that have proven successful,” he said.

The transition marks a significant milestone for one of Gauteng’s flagship infrastructure projects, as the province prepares for a new concession phase while exploring further expansion of the rail system.