Infrastructure remains a major challenge

Infrastructure availability and logistics management remain the biggest challenges facing the movement of project cargo in southern Africa, says Alwyn Nel of Kingfisher Freight Services. A fully integrated freight forwarder that specialises in project handling and logistics management, the company has worked extensively in South Africa and its surrounding regions. “It is essential to have infrastructure available when doing project work,” says Nel. “Also logistics management based on the service delivery of subcontractors and providers who actually deliver the services that they offer poses a challenge. The changes that are made by major role players like the ports, without any consultation with industry or thought of the processes that they are implementing and the consequences of such decisions to the economy as a whole, are problematic and have to be dealt with.” According to Nel it is important to find solutions to these challenges, as there are huge opportunities for doing project work, both within South Africa and regionally using South Africa as a hub for transiting cargoes. “The proper assessment of the scope of work that is to be handled, the limitations, hindrances and obstacles that are presented by the location of the project, infrastructure availability and limitation, clients’ needs, and the effective management of every aspect of the project are all aspects that ensure success,” he says. “Project cargo is specialised and will be handled by companies that have the staff, dedication and knowledge available to handle such tasks. Due to the high demand for specialist knowledge, many companies have started to shy away from this as they have limited manpower with project experience.”