Tana Malinga

A new plan that could change the way goods move across South Africa was announced on Tuesday 30 September.

The announcement by Francois Nortje ( Developer of Port of Gauteng) was made at a media briefing held in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni. Hosted by CVLC ( Cooperative Visible Light Communication ) and led by news anchor Hugo Ribatika, the Port of Gauteng White Paper was launched — a R50 billion project aimed at fixing the country’s struggling freight system.

Francois Nortjé, (CEO of****, said the Port of Gauteng ) and the man behind the new development, said the Port of Gauteng will be “Africa’s most advanced inland trade gateway” and could create over 50,000 permanent jobs.

The site will be built where the Durban–Gauteng rail line meets the N3, N12, and N17 highways. Plans include two long rail tracks for faster container handling, a car and container terminal, plus eco-friendly features like solar power and rainwater recycling.

Speakers stressed the project’s potential to take pressure off South Africa’s busiest trade route.

Mike Daniel, CEO of RailRunner SA, said the port will make rail freight “competitive again,” with goods moved in as little as three hours. Paul Nordengen added that new truck designs could cut heavy-truck traffic by up to 40%, improving both safety and road conditions.

The upside is clear: fewer trucks on crowded highways, lower transport costs, and new jobs. It could also revive rail, which currently carries less than 14% of goods between Durban and Gauteng.

But challenges are real. The project needs land from more than 100 owners, updated transport laws, and reliable rail systems. There’s also the question of funding such a massive build.

If all goes well, the Port of Gauteng could be the boost South Africa’s economy and logistics system urgently need.