Transnet To Invest R233 Million For Rehabilitation Of Durban Port Road

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) announced an investment of around R233 million for the rehabilitation of the Durban Port road to enhance infrastructure and improve efficiency at the port.

The planned rehabilitation of Durban Port road assumes significance as Port of Durban plays a vital role in the South African economy, managing around 60% of the country's total container volumes.

The project is expected to be implemented in the next two years, with a traffic management plan to redirect the flow of vehicles.

TNPA Port Manager for the Port of Durban Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi said that this announcement came as "intensified pressure posed by an influx of trucks on the Port of Durban's Road infrastructure," SA News reported.

The majority of these containers are transported via the Southern Road Network of the port. Over time, there has been a significant rise in the number of trucks entering the port, resulting in the deterioration of the surrounding road infrastructure.

"The improved condition of port roads will positively impact on port operational efficiencies and the smooth flow of traffic in the targeted precincts. The Maydon Wharf will take precedence, with 16 roads set for repairs, followed by Island View with three roads and two on Bayhead," Ben-Mazwi stated.

The project not only addresses structural defects but also restores the functional issues such as fixing surface drainage problems caused by damaged manholes and inlets due to heavy vehicles.

"Embarking on this road rehabilitation journey will ensure that we deliver on our mandate of providing port infrastructure to ensure the port's efficient functioning as the economic gateway to our South African economy," he added.

According to a new United Nations report, smugglers have increased the use of maritime routes to supply drugs via South Africa since the COVID-19 pandemic. In December, customs officers last month caught cocaine worth millions in three different sessions of inspection at Durban harbor. It was worth R151 million.

Aside from Transnet, South Africa sought infrastructure investment from the United Kingdom. South Africa's Public Works and Infrastructure minister Sihle Zikalala held talks with his ministerial counterparts in London in November 2023.