The Road Freight Association (RFA) has thrown its weight behind the proposed R50-billion Port of Gauteng project, calling it a potential “missing link” to revitalise South Africa’s logistics network.

However, the association has warned that the project’s success will depend on genuine private-sector participation and true road–rail integration, rather than creating another centralised bottleneck inland.

In a statement issued on October 9, the RFA said the White Paper released by the Port of Gauteng developers on September 30 presents “an ambitious project to address the huge shortfalls in the current logistics network, especially around rail and multimodal operations,” and praised its recognition of the need to involve the private sector in driving integration and efficiency across the supply chain.

The R50-billion inland port project is positioned as a key opportunity to tackle the systemic inefficiencies that have crippled South Africa’s trade arteries, particularly the Durban–Gauteng freight corridor, which handles the bulk of the country’s imports and exports.

The RFA said the project aligned closely with its long-standing vision of a modern, multimodal logistics system where road and rail complement each other rather than compete.

“The vision outlined in the Port of Gauteng White Paper, to create a premier trade gateway that restores balance to our supply chain, resonates deeply with the core principles of bringing about integrated freight operations and infrastructure,” the association said.

Over the past four decades, the RFA has repeatedly called for the development of inland ports to ease congestion at the country’s coastal ports and surrounding freight depots such as City Deep, in Johannesburg. The organisation said the White Paper correctly identified the unsustainable pressure on the Port of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, which had become a major bottleneck that disrupted the entire economy.

The RFA added that its long engagement with South African Revenue Service (Sars) Customs had helped streamline international trade through innovations such as electronic clearance processes and the development of SmartBorders, which allowed importers and exporters to declare goods electronically from anywhere.

However, while these digital advances had brought efficiencies, the RFA argued that physical container staging at inland hubs such as Cato Ridge, in KwaZulu-Natal, and the proposed Port of Gauteng, would further unlock supply chain fluidity.

“The containerisation and staging of freight at strategic inland hubs will bring about significant improvements to the overall logistics network,” the association noted, adding that the private sector’s role in managing these operations would be crucial for ensuring competitiveness and reliability.

However, the RFA cautioned that rail could not succeed in isolation. It stressed that the success of the Port of Gauteng would depend heavily on the efficiency of the road transport interface, as road freight provided the critical “first and last mile” connections between rail terminals and customers without direct access to sidings or depots.

The White Paper envisions seamless train-to-truck transfers reminiscent of the South African Railways (SAR) container service of the 1970s and 1980s, where dedicated fleets provided direct door-to-door delivery.

The RFA said that, while this model was essential for a functioning intermodal network, it would require substantial investment not only in the port itself but also in surrounding road infrastructure and intermodal facilities.

“It is essential that a true gateway is developed and built, not just a simple relocation of the bottleneck from Durban to Gauteng,” the association said.

The RFA also welcomed the inclusion of performance-based standards (PBS) or “smart trucks” in the port’s design, saying this reflected progress toward safer and more efficient vehicle standards. However, it warned that the PBS framework remained a pilot programme and that its integration into the broader freight environment must consider the impact on operators of standard legal vehicle combinations.

The association said modern freight efficiency did not simply mean carrying heavier loads, but rather improving operational performance through vehicles that were safer, more fuel-efficient and less damaging to road infrastructure.

These factors, it said, were “non-negotiable components in modern, competitive road freight logistics operations” and must apply to both large and small operators alike.

The RFA reiterated its support for government efforts to revitalise rail and open the network to private operators, saying the White Paper’s candid assessment of State-owned Transnet’s operational and financial challenges underscored why private-sector participation was essential to making the system viable.

“Access to rail by private operators is key to efficient operation. The reality that rail currently handles less than 14% of volumes on the Durban–Gauteng corridor, compared to the National Development Plan’s 50% target, highlights the gravity of the situation,” the RFA said.

It added that the Port of Gauteng could provide the “missing link” needed to make rail competitive again, provided it delivers the world-class infrastructure and service reliability that shippers require. The RFA also noted that the country’s freight landscape had changed dramatically in recent years with the rise of e-commerce and smaller, high-frequency consignments replacing traditional bulk shipments.

“In the last five years, freight has morphed from large consignments into consumer operations with very small consignments – sometimes a single item – and this has changed the realities within warehouses and supply chains. The Port of Gauteng will need to be efficient and fast to deal with this demand,” the association said.

The RFA warned that containerised freight moving by rail would place significant demands on scheduling, turnaround times and cargo handling at the port, requiring well-coordinated rail services to prevent new chokepoints from emerging.

The association added that it supported fully integrated modal operations, but only if there was transparent and fair competition among all players involved in road, rail and warehousing services. It emphasised that operational excellence and open access must form the foundation of the Port of Gauteng’s development strategy.

“The Port of Gauteng is a project that aligns with the long-term vision of the RFA for a functional, efficient and integrated South African logistics supply chain. The success of the port will be our members’ success, and ultimately, the nation’s success,” the RFA said.

The association said it looked forward to collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to improve the integration and operation of the country’s logistics network.

“By working together, the proposed R50-billion investment will be better able to deliver on its promise to create jobs, reduce logistics costs, and build a resilient economic future for South Africa,” the RFA said.