The devastating floods have caused billions in damage in KZN’s industrial areas. They have left a trail of destruction at Durban port, and across inland rail and road infrastructure. That has caused serious logistics problems for the inbound movement of automotive parts and the delivery of finished vehicles outbound via the port.

While normal port operations have resumed, export and import deliveries will remain strained for some time because of significant backlogs caused to the disruption to the multimodal transport network. OEMs based in Gauteng province, South Africa’s main economic region, are implementing contingency plans and interventions to increase trucking capacity and utilise alternative roads.

“The Naamsa Supply Chain committee is currently collaborating closely with Transnet to accommodate the industry’s logistics requirements for exports and imports via Durban and KZN,” said Naamsa CEO, Mikel Mabasa. Transet is South Africa’s largest rail, port and pipeline company.