Grindrod Unveils First Phase of R200m Cape Town United Container Depot

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Cape Town – Freight and logistics giant Grindrod has officially opened the first phase of its new R200 million container depot in Salt River, Cape Town, a move expected to ease congestion and reduce weather-related disruptions at the Port of Cape Town.

The depot, leased from Transnet Properties, is strategically located next to the Salt River train station and less than 3km from the port. The first phase, valued at R60 million, spans 40 000m² and can accommodate up to 5 000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It is already partially operational to meet strong demand, while Phase 2 is under construction.

Speaking at the official opening, Grindrod CEO Xolani Mbambo highlighted the facility’s importance for exporters. “Containerised cargo is integral to global trade and to Grindrod’s strategy of providing cost-effective and efficient solutions. We are not just opening a depot, we are opening opportunities for exporters, importers, farmers, manufacturers, and communities,” said Mbambo.

The Salt River depot is equipped with 240 reefer plugs, on-site reefer preparation areas, and staging facilities to ensure the integrity of South Africa’s key exports such as citrus and grapes. Once Phase 2 is completed, the site could potentially handle up to 10 000 TEUs, depending on final configuration, and may include a cold storage facility or bulk mineral warehouse to support minerals from the Northern Cape.

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Mohamed Rahim, Grindrod’s group property manager, said Phase 1 involved extensive site rehabilitation, including asbestos encapsulation and preparing the area for full container handling. The depot forms part of United Container Depots, a Grindrod subsidiary, which generates revenue from full container operations.

The expansion plans include rail-linked access to the port, which will improve efficiency for both commodity exports and refrigerated cargo while reducing pressure on local roads. Discussions with Transnet and independent rail consultants are ongoing to rehabilitate lines for direct port access.

Western Cape MEC for Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Ivan Meyer, who officiated the opening, described the depot as “a significant step in modernising logistics in the Western Cape.” He noted that upgrades at the Cape Town Container Terminal—new equipment, extended ship-working hours, and faster truck turnaround—are already improving port efficiency.

“The depot allows container trucks to load and offload continuously, and operations are less affected by strong southeaster winds, which frequently disrupt port activity,” Meyer added.

The Salt River depot’s dual-lane access roads and staging capacity currently accommodate around 5 000 TEUs and between 50 and 60 trucks at a time, helping to ease bottlenecks in the busy port area.