Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

07 October 2025

3-minute read

The decline and deterioration in the inland transportation links in across South Africa over the last two decades has led to a “white paper” documenting new plans by NT55 Investments, a R50 billion infrastructure development project by the private sector, for the Durban-Gauteng Freight Corridor with an inland port in Gauteng.

Released at the start of Transport Month, this premier trade gateway aims to transform trade transportation across South Africa’s landscape all the way up to the Democratic Republic of Congo where the cobalt and copper mines are located, as well as the entire SADAC region.

Developer Francois Nortje says that the Port of Gauteng is planned on 1400 hectares of land in Ekurhuleni, between the N3, N12 and N17 highways close to the Container Rail Corridor of the Durban-Joburg rail line. It is strategically positioned as a logistics hub, linking the North Rand with the Southeast Rand.

“Africa goes wider as you go further North,” Francois points out, and he says that the new inland port will serve as an ideal entry point and exit point and will ensure that “more trade goes onto the rail than the road.” It will also resolve the conflict between cars and trucks on the 550km road from the Port of Durban to the Port of Joburg, as Rail and road will then be able to operate independently or seamlessly together.

Roads, particularly the N3 highway, will then be open for visitors, holiday makers and families to make use of, and will make transport more efficient.

Francois emphasises that when the N3 Toll Concession comes to an end in 2029, demand management should kick in, where on certain days like holidays, trucks should not be allowed. They are also suggesting that longer and bigger trucks should be tolled more, and the extra money be used to subsidise the rail line.

One section of the railway, located just before the N3 and N17 split, is to be developed as a “container terminal” for containers to and from Durban. It will be perfectly positioned to get goods to markets, ensuring no double travel time. There will also be a car terminal for cars to be stored “in the most optimal position” and delivered to motor dealers, reducing the cost of cars in the long term. In addition, Performance Based Standard trucks that cause less damage to roads will be stored here.

Because of the flat land available in Johannesburg, the cost of storage will make it much more economical for large users like the e-commerce industry than it is in hilly Durban. It would also be the ideal place to consolidate goods coming in from the Durban harbour.

A national transport regulator is also soon to be put into place, and by 2030, they expect 50% of trade transport to be carried out by rail, thereby decreasing congestion on and overuse of the roads. With a request for proposals early next year, NT55 Investments are looking to start construction in early 2027.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Francois Nortje.