by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE Port of Gauteng has published a White Paper outlining its R50 billion development strategy to overhaul South Africa’s strained freight logistics system, pledging to create 50,000 permanent jobs while improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Launched at the start of Transport Month, the paper positions the Port of Gauteng as Africa’s most advanced inland trade gateway.
It aims to address mounting pressure on the Durban–Gauteng Freight Corridor, where rail now handles less than 14% of volumes — far below the National Development Plan’s (NDP) 2030 target of 50%.
South Africa’s logistics crisis has been aggravated by surging container volumes driven by e-commerce giants such as Shein, Temu, and Amazon, as well as rising car imports. These trends are accelerating the shift from air freight to container shipping, further straining road and rail networks.
“We’re creating Africa’s most advanced inland trade gateway,” said Francois Nortjé, developer of the Port of Gauteng.
“The 50,000 permanent jobs are just the beginning; this project is a platform for decades of sustainable growth.”
Strategically located at the junction of the Container Rail Corridor and major highways (N3, N12, N17), the facility will include 2.2 km flat rail alignments, a world-class container and car terminal, and integrated green infrastructure such as solar power, rainwater harvesting, and recycling systems.
The project also integrates Performance-Based Standards (PBS) vehicles — long truck-and-trailer combinations capable of carrying two containers.
This innovation is expected to cut truck traffic on the N3 by a third, improve road safety, and reduce emissions.
Industry experts say the project could be decisive in restoring rail competitiveness.
“Port of Gauteng provides the missing link that makes rail viable again,” said Mike Daniel, CEO of RailRunner South Africa, citing plans for three-hour turnaround times at the terminals.
With container demand projected to quadruple from 2.8 million to 11.2 million annually, the Port of Gauteng’s White Paper underscores the urgency of modernizing freight infrastructure to meet NDP goals, cut logistics costs, and unlock long-term economic growth.
– CAJ News