Logistical nightmare for Namibia transporters

Uncharacteristically heavy downpours have wreaked havoc on the road between Karasburg and Ariamsvlei in Namibia, creating a logistical nightmare for transport service providers and their customers. “It’s affected all transporters in the region, including us,” Nic Hendrikse, marketing manager of FP du Toit Transport, told FTW. “The route has been closed for an indefinite period to heavy vehicles and our trucks out of Johannesburg that use the Nakop/Ariamsvlei border post have to re-route via Noordoewer/Vioolsdrif, which is a 300km round trip on the route to Namibia. With all Johannesburg/ Ariamsvlei traffic now being re-routed with Cape Town traffic, we are experiencing severe congestion – and the result is that cargo will be late.” According to FTW sources, some 15km of the road is impassable with parts of it totally destroyed. Repairs have begun but it’s unlikely that the road will open to heavy traffic for at least another month.