The Port of Gauteng’s ambitious R50 billion inland logistics hub has received an overwhelmingly positive response following the release of its White Paper, confirming strong alignment between the project’s vision and national transport priorities.
Government officials, industry associations, and logistics experts have all voiced support, calling the project a “turning point” for South Africa’s freight network, especially along the struggling Durban–Gauteng Corridor.
Government Signals Readiness
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) says its infrastructure rollout is already aligned with the Port’s objectives under the province’s 25-year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25).
Melitah Madiba, Director of Communications at GDRT, said the Port’s location “fits with this strategy perfectly,” adding that the surrounding road infrastructure will help unlock local economic growth and create jobs.
According to GDRT, the Port is seen as a cornerstone in cementing Gauteng’s status as South Africa’s leading freight and logistics hub.
Aligned with National Rail Reform
The Port’s development dovetails neatly with the national push to revitalise rail transport. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy recently reiterated that rail must once again become the “backbone” of South Africa’s freight and passenger system.
Creecy noted that public ownership of key rail assets remains non-negotiable but stressed that “private capital is crucial” to restoring operational performance.
Port of Gauteng developer Francois Nortjé said the R50 billion project “directly answers this call” for collaborative, non-state-funded investment in logistics infrastructure. “We are offering a practical model to rebuild rail capacity through private innovation and financial sustainability,” he said.
Industry Applauds Collaborative Model
The response from the private sector has been equally strong.
Road Freight Association (RFA) CEO Gavin Kelly called the project a “pivotal opportunity to address systemic inefficiencies crippling South Africa’s economic arteries.”
He said the Port’s focus on creating a multimodal hub where road and rail complement rather than compete “may well provide the missing link that can make rail competitive again.”
Grain SA CEO Tobias Doyer also welcomed the development, noting that it comes “at a critical time when agricultural logistics are under severe strain.”
FleetWatch editor Patrick O’Leary described the White Paper as “the most ambitious private-sector plan tabled to date,” warning that success depends on execution. “If the regulatory framework for PBS, reliable rail operations, and financing all line up, the Durban–Gauteng Corridor could finally shift from crisis to competitiveness. If not, the trucks will keep rolling and the N3 will remain South Africa’s most fragile artery,” O’Leary said.
PBS and Technology Endorsements
The inclusion of Performance-Based Standards (PBS) technology has been widely praised.
Paul Nordengen, Director at Heavy Vehicle Transport Technology Africa, said PBS had already delivered “a 39 percent crash reduction” in pilot phases and would “significantly improve safety, cut costs, reduce congestion on the N3, and protect infrastructure.”
Financial Structure to Support Rail
Nortjé added that the Port’s hybrid financial model is designed to reinforce rail recovery. “Transnet has publicly acknowledged material uncertainty over its financial position. Our approach provides a sustainable way to support the Rail Container Corridor through PBS toll cross-subsidies to the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM),” he explained.
He emphasised that rail revival alone cannot solve the corridor’s R3 billion annual loss without private-sector-supported funding.
Unified Purpose Going Forward
“With overwhelming support from both government and industry, we can now move forward with a unified purpose to deliver a world-class trade gateway for Gauteng and South Africa,” Nortjé concluded.
SA Trucker concurs: If this plan delivers what’s on paper, it could be one of the biggest game-changers for the N3 in decades. A proper inland port that works with rail instead of against it could finally ease the truck congestion between Durban and Gauteng, but execution will be everything.
Truckers know this corridor better than anyone. We’ve seen plans come and go while the road keeps taking a hammering. This time, the private sector seems serious, and the government is on board. If they can pull it off, it could mean less downtime, safer roads, and smoother freight flow for everyone in the game.
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