Johannesburg — South Africa’s Road Freight Association (RFA) has thrown its support behind the ambitious R50 billion Port of Gauteng project, viewing the massive inland logistics hub as a critical opportunity to overhaul the nation’s crippled freight network. The RFA’s review of the project’s White Paper stresses that the private sector is essential to reviving the Durban-Gauteng freight corridor.
The private-sector initiative aims to resolve the systemic inefficiencies that have choked the country’s main trade route, particularly the struggling rail system. The RFA, which has long advocated for an integrated, multimodal network, highlights the urgent need for private operators to drive the integration of road and rail.
“The White Paper’s vision ‘to create a premier trade gateway that restores balance to our supply chain’ deeply resonates with our long-held principles,” said Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association. “This project can provide the missing link that makes rail competitive again, but only if that rail is efficiently operated and accessible to private players.”
Rail’s Collapse and the Road-Rail Imperative
The RFA’s analysis underscores the stark failure of the current logistics system to meet national goals. Rail currently handles less than 14% of freight volumes on the vital Durban-Gauteng corridor—a major deficit against the National Development Plan’s 50% target. This collapse, according to the RFA, highlights why private sector involvement and investment are crucial to reversing years of operational and financial challenges at the state-owned rail operator.
While the new inland port aims to shift rail-friendly cargo off the roads, the RFA is quick to caution that the project’s success is intrinsically linked to the road freight industry.
“Rail cannot succeed in a vacuum,” Kelly stated. “The road transport interface provides the vital ‘first- and last-mile’ services. The Port of Gauteng must be built as a true gateway, not simply relocate the Durban bottleneck inland.”
Smart Trucks and E-Commerce Demands
The White Paper’s inclusion of Performance-Based Standards (PBS) vehicles—longer, safer, and more efficient truck-and-trailer combinations—was noted as an intriguing move. The RFA supports the development of “smart trucks” that enhance safety, reduce fuel consumption, and lower operational costs for all operators.
The Association also emphasized that the new inland port must be designed for speed to meet the evolving demands of e-commerce. The industry has morphed from large consignments to fast-moving, high-volume consumer operations with very small, sometimes single-item, shipments. This trend places huge asks on turnaround times and container de-stuffing at the port.
The RFA ultimately supports the R50 billion investment, provided there is transparent and cooperative competition for all operators—rail, warehousing, and road—ensuring operational excellence and fair access for all parties. The project, it concludes, aligns with the long-term vision for a resilient South African logistics supply chain.