Industry leaders welcome R50 billion development of the Port of Gauteng

INDUSTRY players have reacted positively to plans for the RSO billion development of the Port of Gauteng.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

INDUSTRY players have reacted positively to plans for the R50 billion development of the Port of Gauteng. | Supplied

(Supplied)

The White Paper for the Port of Gauteng was released two weeks ago.

Developer Francois Nortje said the Port of Gauteng aims to become Africa’s most advanced inland trade gateway, addressing chronic inefficiencies in the national logistics system while creating more than 50 000 permanent jobs.

Malcolm Hartwell, Norton Rose Fulbright director and master mariner, said that in the first instance, any investment in logistics infrastructure is welcomed by traders and transporters who have struggled with South Africa’s inefficient and expensive logistics network, which has been dominated by Transnet’s monopoly over the ports and rail network.

“Low-margin traders need efficient and cost-effective logistics networks to develop and grow their businesses. The decline in Transnet rail services has resulted in costly delays in delivery and has driven container transport from the rail corridors where it belongs to the road networks which are not designed to cope with high volume heavy truck traffic,” Hartwell said.