Reddy plans warehouse expansion

Durban remains the port of choice
for importers and exporters. It
has held this distinction since
the discovery of Natal by Vasco Da
Gama and anybody with experience in
and knowledge of the transport industry
knows that not having a firm foothold
within Durban is tantamount to suicide.
So says Jackie Reddy, manager of
Reddy Cargo Services (RCS) Durban,
where plans are under way to expand
the current facilities of the company to
include a larger warehouse.
“Our Durban branch is a regional
office and not a satellite office,” says
Reddy. “It is fully equipped and staffed
to operate autonomously without being
dependent on the head office. We
are also situated close to the Durban
Container Terminal and handle all
imports and exports via sea, road and
rail as well as warehousing.”
The Durban branch forms an
integral part of RCS, handling all the
business along the coast from Richards
Bay to Port Elizabeth while being
primarily responsible for all cargo
from Durban to the Johannesburg
head office.
“While Richards Bay can handle
larger cargo and has been growing
rapidly, one must remember that
Richards Bay was only developed to
take on the overflow from Durban
and handle bulk shipments. With the
current infrastructure investments
from Transnet and government,
Durban still is – and is likely to
always be – the busiest port in Africa,
thus making it the ideal place for a
transporter to be based or have a fully
functional office as is the case with
RCS,” says Reddy.
As the port of entry into
Johannesburg, Durban is also cheaper
than Johannesburg or Cape Town.
“Especially in terms of rentals and
wages there is a cost saving, but then
there’s the high cost of fuel and toll
fees along the Johannesburg/Durban
corridor. Recent escalations have seen
the cost of transport rise significantly.”
According to Reddy one major
challenge in Durban remains the
outdated infrastructure at the port,
something which is currently being
rectified. “Hopefully this will result
in lesser time delays in getting cargo
loaded and on the move.”