The unexpected growth in
cargo volumes in the SADC
region has resulted in major
bottlenecks at the borders in
particular – and delays translate into
significant additional costs.
James Botha of Southern
African Cargo Logistics believes
that finding solutions to these
bottlenecks is critical – especially
since most of the continent’s
breakbulk cargo moves by road
rather than rail.
Kuba Naiken, managing director
of Trans Med Shipping, agrees, but
he says while bottlenecks at border
posts are not unique to Africa,
the cost impact on project and
breakbulk cargo on the continent is
massive.
“Here we also have to deal
with the impact of corruption,
mismanagement, limited trading
hours at border posts and
inadequate infrastructure – not just
in terms of road and rail, but at the
posts themselves.”
He said with cargo volumes
continuing to increase, more and
more border posts were struggling
to handle the volumes.
“Africa needs to set its own
milestones,” he said, “and then
work towards achieving them.”
According to Barbara Mommen,
chief executive officer of the
Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative
(MCLI), there is no easy or quick
solution to border bottlenecks.
“Many believe the establishment
of one-stop border posts is the way
forward, but that is a long-term
solution as there are very complex
legal and bilateral agreements
between governments in Africa.”
Citing South Africa and
Mozambique as an example she
said heads of state had already met
and approved a 24-hour working
border post between the two
countries in 2007.
“We have not even reached that
target five years later as it is still
only an 18-hour border post. It is a
complex process that requires both
countries involved to be on the
same page at the same time.”
While Mozambique has been
ready to move its operations to 24
hours a day, there has been a holdup
on the South African side. But it
is now at the point where Sars has
advised Cabinet on the importance
of having 24-hour border operations
and even a one-stop border.
“They are now getting ratification
in South Africa. One has to consider
that the infrastructure has to be
changed for a one-stop border post
while there are also sometimes
seven to eight different government
departments involved in the process
in both countries.”
While the red tape often holds up
the process, borders in Africa are
not technologically on par.
“In South Africa Customs
modernisation has made a major
difference. Where trucks sat for
two sometimes even more days at
a border post they are now moving
through within an hour if their
documentation is correct,” said
Mommen. “But Mozambique does
not have that, so the truck driver
has to disembark to get clearance,
causing a delay.”
While experts believe that
modernisation and electronic
systems may bring an end to
bottlenecks, they say it will
only be possible if neighbouring
countries are able to use compatible
technology.
Botha says to really move cargo
faster at borders one needs to
implement systems that are able to
work across borders and that reduce
human interface.
CAPTION
James Botha … huge additional costs.
