Port of Gauteng Reports Overwhelming Investor Response to 1,400-Hectare Multimodal Logistics Hub
The Port of Gauteng (PoG) has dismissed speculation that its 1,400-hectare multimodal logistics development south of Johannesburg is failing to attract investors.
In a statement, the project’s developers confirmed that the initiative has received an “overwhelmingly positive response” following the release of its White Paper.
The PoG, strategically located along the N3 National Corridor, has drawn interest from both public and private sector stakeholders, including logistics expert Paul Nordengen and several major industry players.
Performance-Based Trucking to Boost Efficiency and Safety
According to Francois Nortjé, developer of the Port of Gauteng project, the implementation of Performance-Based Standards (PBS) trucking could dramatically reduce heavy freight congestion along the N3. PBS-compliant trucks allow for greater payload efficiency and improved safety performance.
Nortjé noted that adopting PBS systems would not only ease pressure on national roads but also increase revenue from toll fees and improve the movement of 40-foot containers between Durban and Gauteng.
Echoing his sentiment, Paul Nordengen, Director of Heavy Vehicle Transport Technology Africa, highlighted the proven safety benefits of PBS.
“Pilot projects have already demonstrated a 39% reduction in crash rates,” Nordengen said.
He added that if government adopts the White Paper’s recommendations, it could significantly reduce logistics costs, highway congestion, and infrastructure wear while improving road safety across South Africa’s busiest trade route.
Agricultural Sector Welcomes Inland Port Project
The inland port has also gained support from the agricultural industry. Grain SA CEO Tobias Doyer described the development as arriving at a “critical time when the agricultural logistics system is under severe strain.”
Doyer emphasized that the Port of Gauteng will provide vital relief to farmers and exporters by improving access to reliable, cost-effective logistics infrastructure for the movement of grain and related commodities.
Aligned with National Rail and Transport Strategy
Nortjé said the project aligns with Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s renewed commitment to re-establishing rail as the backbone of freight transport.
He further highlighted that the timing of the project coincides with Transnet’s open-access rail policy, allowing third-party slot operators to participate in freight rail operations—an opportunity that could significantly benefit the port’s integrated logistics model.
“After 13 years in the making, the revitalisation of the Port of Gauteng is a pivotal step toward modernising South Africa’s logistics corridor between Gauteng and Durban,” Nortjé said.
Potential investors such as Amazon and MSC have been cited as ideal partners for the port’s warehousing and distribution facilities, given its strategic location and prime connectivity within South Africa’s trade network.
Supports Gauteng’s Long-Term Transport Vision
The project is fully aligned with Gauteng’s 25-year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25). According to Melitah Madiba, Communications Director at the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT), the inland port “fits perfectly within the province’s long-term transport strategy.”
The PoG statement adds that the development will unlock local economic growth, create employment opportunities, and reinforce Gauteng’s position as South Africa’s leading freight and logistics hub.
Rival Project Raises Competitive Tensions
However, shortly before publication, it emerged that the Tambo Springs Logistics Gateway, a separate logistics development, may present direct competition to the Port of Gauteng.
While details remain limited, industry observers note that such competition could spur innovation and efficiency across South Africa’s evolving inland logistics landscape.
