R10 Billion Insimbi Ridge Logistics Precinct Launched in Cato Ridge, to Ease Pressure on Durban Port and N3 Corridor

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The R10 billion Insimbi Ridge Logistics Precinct has officially been launched, marking one of South Africa’s most ambitious privately funded freight-corridor developments. The project, situated in Cato Ridge, is expected to reshape KwaZulu-Natal’s logistics landscape by introducing vital inland staging and intermodal capacity designed to ease pressure on the Durban Port and the N3 corridor.

Developers say the project will directly strengthen freight movement between KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The Port of Gauteng, located at the other end of the N3, also offers intermodal capacity, and together the two developments are expected to significantly reduce congestion along the Durban–Gauteng corridor.

The development will introduce new inland staging and intermodal capacity that the developers say will directly relieve pressure on the Durban Port and N3 corridor, while strengthening freight flow between KwaZulu-Natal and the Port of Gauteng, another ambitious privately owned inland logistics gateway.

Developed by Assore SA PropCo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Assore SA (Pty) Ltd, in partnership with the Rail Development Corporation (RDC), the precinct forms part of the provincial government’s long-term strategy to attract private investment into key logistics infrastructure. The goal is to decongest ports, boost freight efficiency, and drive industrialisation across the province.

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KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Musa Zondi, hailed the project as a turning point for the province’s logistics future.

“The Insimbi Ridge Logistics Precinct marks a major milestone in KwaZulu-Natal—transforming 500 hectares of former industrial land into one of South Africa’s first privately funded inland logistics hubs,” Zondi said.

“Every container that moves more efficiently through this corridor is not just cargo; it is confidence. It is trust regained in KwaZulu-Natal’s capacity to deliver.”

Zondi also emphasised that the precinct’s environmental governance underscores the province’s commitment to sustainable industrialisation through the responsible redevelopment of the former Cato Ridge Works site.

Speaking on behalf of the developers, Tiaan van Aswegen of Assore SA PropCo said the project aims to cement Cato Ridge’s position as a key logistics node in the Durban-Gauteng freight corridor.

“Insimbi Ridge is not just a property development initiative; it is a strategic project aimed at positioning Cato Ridge as a critical hub within the logistics corridor. We look forward to seeing this development open a new chapter for KZN and the Assore Group,” he said.

Sibusisiwe Nodada, Director at RDC, described the project as a national model for re-industrialisation and freight reform, purpose-built as a multimodal logistics and light-industrial hub within the Durban–Cato Ridge growth corridor.

EThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the city expects the development to mirror the success of Midrand’s transformation between Johannesburg and Tshwane.

“Projects like Insimbi Ridge and the Dry Port will create a seamless economic corridor between Durban and Pietermaritzburg,” he said.

“The Cato Ridge Logistics Park, including Insimbi Ridge, has the potential to create 5 000 jobs during construction and 10 000 permanent positions once operational, while contributing about R500 million annually to the city’s rates base.”

With construction now underway, the Insimbi Ridge Logistics Precinct is poised to anchor a decade of industrial growth, positioning KwaZulu-Natal as the heartbeat of South Africa’s next major logistics revolution.