KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has pledged to advocate for relief on Sydney Road in Umbilo, eThekwini, where escalating truck congestion is severely impacting businesses near the port area.
Rodgers made this commitment following a meeting with the Umbilo Business Association (UBA) representatives, including Chairperson Doran Subiah, Policy Director Ian Campbell-Gillies, and Legal Adviser and Policy Strategist Nontokozo Mpanza-Seme.
The UBA raised concerns over the ongoing congestion, which is hampering business operations and discouraging investment in the area.
During the meeting, Subiah presented the UBA’s public-private partnership proposal, which aims to revitalize the Umbilo business precinct into a vibrant entrepreneurial and residential hub.
“The UBA precinct is the third-largest contributor to eThekwini’s GDP, yet local infrastructure investment has been lacking over the years,” Subiah remarked.
The proposal, based on findings from a recent logistics study, focuses on improving local road infrastructure, restoring Umbilo’s economic viability, reducing crime, and forming a public-private partnership to protect business and community interests.
The study, titled “Logistics Study for the Proposed Alan Paton Road Truck Staging Area in Umbilo,” highlights the unintended clustering of large logistics operations on Sydney Road, transforming the area into a heavy traffic zone over the past decade.
“Despite inadequate road infrastructure, the concentration of logistics activity continues to grow, and the number of trucks, particularly super links and tri-axles, entering the area each day exceeds the capacity of receiving sites, leading to illegal parking along Sydney Road and nearby streets,” the study noted.
Rodgers endorsed the proposed public-private partnership as a unique opportunity to revitalize the precinct, promising to raise the matter within government structures to secure support.
“This initiative will create jobs, stimulate investment, and ensure the area’s long-term prosperity,” he stated.
Subiah expressed optimism, saying the meeting fostered positive discussions on solutions to the precinct’s challenges, emphasizing the potential for sustainable economic growth with government backing.
