Airports Company South Africa to Invest $1.2 Billion in Upgrades, Expands OR Tambo and Cape Town Projects South Africa’s state-owned Airports Company South Africa SOC Ltd. (Acsa) plans to raise about half of the R21.7 billion ($1.2 billion) it will spend on infrastructure upgrades over the next year, according to Chief Financial Officer Luzuko Mbotya. The operator will fund the program through a mix of long-term debt instruments and favorable
Author: Constance Makungu
TRANSCO Expands Fleet with 30 New Mercedes-Benz Buses in Kinshasa
TRANSCO Strengthens Kinshasa Public Transport with 30 New Mercedes-Benz Buses The public transport company TRANSCO has received a new batch of 30 Mercedes-Benz buses on Monday, August 25, 2025, from Suprême Automobile, a Kinshasa-based vehicle assembly company. This delivery marks the first tranche of 60 buses expected under a partnership between the Congolese Government and Suprême Automobile, aimed at boosting the capacity of TRANSCO’s fleet to meet the growing mobility
South Africa Opens Freight Rail Network to Private Operators to Boost Efficiency
South Africa Allows Private Operators on Freight Rail to Tackle Transnet Bottlenecks South Africa will open its freight rail network to private operators, the government announced Friday, in an effort to improve efficiency as state-owned Transnet grapples with persistent bottlenecks. Transnet, which manages the nation’s rail and port services, has faced equipment shortages, maintenance delays, and widespread cable theft, prompting calls for greater private sector involvement, Reuters reported. Transport Minister
Cape Town Port Shows Steady Performance Gains but Remains Underutilised
Port of Cape Town Records Higher Throughput but Faces Underutilisation Despite Capacity Improvements Throughput across multiple cargo categories at the Port of Cape Town rose during the week of August 11–17, aligning with improved operational data published by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity South Africa (Busa). However, despite the improvements, the port remains underutilised relative to its available capacity, says Terry Gale, chairperson of
Port of Durban Welcomes Tata’s First Vehicle Shipment in Six Years
Tata Returns to South Africa with First Vehicle Shipment Since 2019 via Port of Durban The Port of Durban has offloaded its first shipment of Tata vehicles in six years, marking the Indian automaker’s return to the South African market after a lengthy absence. The roll-on/roll-off vessel Swan Ace, a 17-year-old Bahamian-flagged car carrier, delivered a consignment of 485 Tata vehicles to the L&M Berth on Wednesday. According to Transnet
South Africa’s Ports Show Steady Recovery as Weekly Volumes Surge
South African Ports Record 8% Weekly Growth, Signaling Strong Recovery Momentum South Africa’s ports are showing a clear upward recovery trend, according to the latest Cargo Movement Update (CMU) compiled by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity South Africa (Busa). For the week of August 11–17, ports handled an average of 14 168 TEUs per day, up from 13 121 TEUs reported the previous week.
Durban’s Bayhead Road Rehabilitation Moves Ahead to Boost Port Efficiency and Safety
TNPA’s Bayhead Road Upgrade Advances to Phase 2, Strengthening Durban Port Access The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has confirmed that its Bayhead Road rehabilitation project — a key upgrade to the Port of Durban’s logistics corridor — is progressing on schedule. The strategic revamp aims to enhance port access, improve road safety, and strengthen the precinct’s infrastructure resilience. Since breaking ground in June 2025, the project has moved seamlessly
Global Shipping Faces Surge in Deadly Vessel Fires Amid Lithium Battery Risks
Rising Vessel Fires Claim Eight Seafarers in 2025, Sparking Safety Concerns Eight seafarers have lost their lives in vessel fires since June, highlighting mounting concerns within the maritime sector about the growing scale and complexity of onboard fire risks. The most recent fatality occurred last weekend, when a delivery ship captain died at the Port of Yeosu in South Korea. Container shipping has accounted for most of the recent casualties,
Explosion on Cargo Ship Halts Traffic at Baltimore Port
Baltimore Cargo Ship Explosion Shuts Port Channel, Sparks Investigation US investigators are probing the cause of an explosion aboard a coal-carrying cargo ship that shook the Port of Baltimore on Monday evening as the vessel set sail for East Africa. The blast lit up the night sky with flames and a thick plume of smoke over the Patapsco River, forcing the closure of the port’s main shipping channel. No injuries
DHL and Partners Roll Out South Africa’s First Electric Volvo Truck
DHL Tests Africa’s First Electric Volvo Truck in Partnership with Unilever to Drive Greener Logistics DHL Supply Chain has launched a landmark electric vehicle (EV) pilot in South Africa, partnering with Unilever and Volvo Trucks to advance sustainable freight transport on the continent. The project introduces Africa’s first fully electric Volvo FMX 6X4 tractor, coupled with an 18-metre curtain-sided superlink double trailer, to support Unilever’s supply chain operations. The pilot