https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Africa|Automotive|Container|Export|Freight|Health|Industrial|Logistics|Ports|rail|Road|Roads|Services|Systems|Terminals|Transnet|transport|Trucks|Equipment
Africa|Automotive|Container|Export|Freight|Health|Industrial|Logistics|Ports|rail|Road|Roads|Services|Systems|Terminals|Transnet|transport|Trucks|Equipment
africa|automotive|container|export|freight|health|industrial|logistics|ports|rail|road|roads|services|systems|terminals|transnet|transport|trucks|equipment

Freight challenges create import-export difficulties

13th September 2019

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah

journalist

     

Font size: - +

South Africa is facing many challenges, but those in freight logistics are among the most serious, says industry association South African Association of Freight Forwarders national maritime consultant Dave Watts.

He adds that the freight forwarding industry faces daily challenges in attempting to ensure the smooth and economic transport of goods to and from the harbours.

“Other than dry and liquid bulk commodities and motor vehicles, containers carry the vast majority of general freight to and from South Africa. For some time, the performance of our container terminals and State-controlled logistics companies has not been fit for purpose in a number of areas.”

Watts points out that serious road congestion into the two main Durban container terminals is a regular occurrence, with trucks often having to wait for hours to be serviced and unloaded. This can be attributed to low productivity at the terminal, covert industrial action, equipment shortages, breakdowns, constant management changes and weather, he explains.

“This situation has become a part of Durban life, as commuters are regularly warned to avoid the access roads in the south Durban basin, owing to truck queues.”

Subsequently, improved access is required to the area where far too many depots, terminals and tank farms are being serviced by one access road, he adds.

Watts notes that the rail industry “has singularly failed to increase its uptake of traffic to and from Durban”, resulting in an ever-increasing demand for trucks. Besides the various reasons for the industry’s poor performance, he highlights that there appears to be no real motivation on the part of rail company Transnet to address its low market share of about 20% in all import and export container traffic, excluding transshipments.

Moreover, he notes that the recent situation at the Port of Ngqura and the Port of Port Elizabeth, both in the Eastern Cape, was untenable, as poor decision-making regarding equipment and an apparent “go-slow” had an “enormous” impact on the automotive industry and the burgeoning citrus export trade. Currently, however, this situation has been resolved to some extent.

“As a result, the citrus export trade is being forced to truck containers to Durban or Cape Town, as vessels have to wait for days to berth or they decide to bypass the ports altogether.”

Other Challenges

Other issues facing forwarders, importers and exporters are State organisations’ interference in attempting to oversee imports, says Watts.

“The border police, who are poorly equipped and have limited border control systems or customs knowledge have taken on some of the responsibility that would normally be that of customs.”

He notes that the veterinary, health and specification control departments, among others, all have some essential element of involvement, but are often poorly equipped or managed.

“Customs have developed modern electronic data interchange systems that can allow for proper oversight, but their services are often not used by other State organisations or there is no interfacing between State organisations resulting in duplicated, pointless and expensive inspections,” he concludes.

Edited by Zandile Mavuso
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

Comments

Showroom

Showroom image
Alcohol Breathalysers

Supplier & Distributor of the Widest Range of Accurate & Easy-to-Use Alcohol Breathalysers

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.092 0.148s - 165pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now