Transport and Networks
Infrastructure development is a critical anchor of South Africa's strategy of progress. South Africa's phenomenal expansion of trade over the past five years has resulted in roads, railways, airports and ports developing to reach new levels of efficiency. Major projects and large contracts involving transport and electricity networks are currently in the pipeline throughout the whole country.
Ports, roads and rail
South Africa - This country sits astride the world's major shipping routes, a natural stop en route to Europe, Asia, Australasia, and the rest of Africa. South Africa has seven commercial ports, the largest and best equipped harbour network in Africa. Durban and Richard's Bay ports provide complementary services, Richard's Bay being the largest bulk coal terminal in the world (more than 80 million tons of coal a year are routed through this port). Durban port is Africa's busiest, providing the largest container facility in Southern Africa at 2,6 million TEU per annum, 68% of South Africa's container traffic.
The South African Government is currently implementing a R8.25 billion investment programme which will see major port, rail and road improvements over the next few years, taking growth and productivity to the next level. Currently companies manufacturing for export can locate in one of four Industrial Development Zones (Export Processing Zones). These are strategically placed to minimise logistics cost and maximise profit potential for investors.
South Africa's rail network ranks 8th in the world in terms of freight carried. It is the 10th longest in the world, and Transnet, the State Corporation managing rail, has significant development programmes underway to ensure that the network remains the best maintained in Africa, and continues to provide a mission-critical service to South African Exporters.
KwaZulu-Natal air transport facilities
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the largest airports authority in Africa, operates the country’s ten principal airports, including O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban International Airports. Together, their airports handle more than 200,000 aircraft landings and 23 million arriving and departing passengers annually.
The Durban International Airport (DIA), which has developed a reputation for handling dignitaries and delegates professionally and efficiently, is located 17 km outside the city of Durban, and is the 3rd busiest airport in South Africa. This airport handles two million passengers per year from destinations worldwide, with around 45, 0000 movements. Because of the outstretched capacity of the airport, a ground-breaking co-operation agreement was reached between the National Department of Transport, the Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal and ACSA to develop a Greenfield airport with a trade zone at La Mercy, 35km north of Durban. In early 2010, DIA will be de-commissioned when the new international airport at La Mercy comes on stream. Linked to the airport’s air freight component, the Dube Trade Port (also under construction and due for completion in early 2010) will offer commercial facilities such as the Trade Zone, whose two-fold objectives are (i) to recapture KwaZulu-Natal freight currently utilizing Gauteng’s OR Tambo International Airport and, (ii) provide a platform to actively support and generate new investment in the full range of air freight-related businesses and associated services in KwaZulu-Natal.
In addition to direct connection to Maputo and Mauritius, the Emirates airline opened a direct daily connection with the province of KwaZulu-Natal to Dubai, in October this 2009. There are myriad other direct connections with the OR Tambo and Cape Town International airports. SA Express also connects DIA with the smaller airports of Richards Bay and Pietermaritzburg, which too have direct links to the ORTIA.
For more information on DIA, ACSA the Dube Trade Port and La Mercy Airport, please visit:
http://durban-dur.airports-guides.com/
http://www.airports.co.za/home.asp?pid=230
http://www.airports.co.za
http://www.dubetradeport.co.za/
http://lamercy.info/
| IT & telecommunications | |
 | World-class telecommunications are offered in South Africa. 99.8% Digital networks with fixed-line, wireless and satellite communication make up the most sophisticated telco infrastructure in Africa. The GSM cellular phone market is in the top quartile globally, in terms of growth, offering clear opportunities to innovators in the sector. Benefits of their significant investments are being experienced currently by major players such as Alcatel, Siemens, Vodafone and SBC Communications. |
| Telkom, the major fixed-line operator in South Africa, is a key player in a US$630m optical fibre undersea cable project. Almost 40 nations and several international telecommunications operators have joined Telkom in the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE initiative, which links African nations with Asia and Europe.
The cable is capable of transmitting 80 gigabits per second between two points, and will be linking to KZN in the vicinity of the Dube Trade Port. [need more on latest regulations, second operator, lobbying in progress.
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