The mission of the RSR is ‘to oversee and promote safe railway operations through appropriate support, monitoring and enforcement guided by an enabling regulatory framework’.  The RSR’s mission must always be viewed against the Department of Transport’s vision of “Transport, the heartbeat of South Africa’s economic growth and social development.” Safe railway operations are vital to the national economy and therefore critical to the sustainability of our freight logistics and public transport system. The RSR’s interventions flow from government’s objective of ensuring the provision of a safe, affordable, accessible and reliable transport system.
 
The establishment of the Railway Safety Regulator constitutes a commitment by the South African government to improve safety in the country’s railways in a systematic and sustainable manner. It is equally an acknowledgement of the critical role railways continue to play in the overall transportation system in the country. The allocation of R18 billion over the medium term to fund passenger rail is the clearest indication of this commitment. Similarly, Transnet Freight Rail will have injected capital to the value of R35 billion by 2012, largely focusing on the rehabilitation and renewal programme for rolling stock and infrastructure.
 
Vision
Creation of a safe railway environment

Mission
To oversee and promote safe railway operations through appropriate support, monitoring and enforcement, guided by an enabling regulatory framework.

Values
The core values of the RSR are:
Fairness,
Equity,
Transparency,
Integrity, and
Innovation
Mandate
The Railway Safety Regulator (“the RSR”) is a public entity established in terms of Section 4 of the National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 2002 (Act No. 16 of 2002).  The RSR is governed and controlled by a board of directors, appointed by the Minister of Transport, who hold office for a period of three (3) years.
 
The mandate of the RSR can be summarised as follows:
•       To oversee safety of railway transport, while operators remain responsible for managing safety of their operations;
•       To promote improved safety performance in order to promote the use of rail;
•       To monitor and ensure compliance through the conducting of audits, inspections andoccurrence investigations;
•       To develop regulations;
•       To conclude appropriate co-operative agreements or other arrangement with organs of state to ensure effective management and 
          overseeing of safe railway operations and to minimise duplication;
•       To collect and disseminate information relating to safe railway operations;
•       To develop, adopt or accept standards for safe railway operations;
•       To collaborate with and conclude contracts, where appropriate, with any person, body or institution with the view to furthering the objects
        the RSR, including scientific and technical information, and training;
•       To promote the harmonisation of the railway safety regime of South Africa with SADC railway operations.
 
Head Office
2 Ernest Oppenheimer Avenue
Waterview Corner • Bruma • 2198
PO BOX 655 • 2026 • South Africa
 
Telphone: +27 11 417 0000
Fascimile:  +27 11 417 0010
Website: www.rsr.org.za
 
Cape Town Office
No 1 Adderley Street • Paul Sauer Building
Railway Safety Regulator
5th floor - Room 515 • Cape Town • 8001
 
www.rsr.org.za