Shortage of rail wagons creates headaches for Swazi freight industry

IN ITS many years arranging the
rail transport for containerised
cargo from Swaziland shipped
on MSC vessels, MSC Logistics
knows well the ins and outs of
rail transport from the Matsapha
Inland Container Depot outside
the firm’s window to Durban. Raw
materials come in and agricultural
and industrial products go out,
but port congestion far from the
landlocked country is affecting
shipments.
“Right now it’s better, but
around Christmas it was a disaster.
Delays of 53 days!” said company
manager Tony Viagas.
Trains depart like clockwork from
Matsapha at 16:00. daily, and arrive
at the Gollel railhead five hours
later, where wagons are exchanged.
The outgoing containers head to
Durban, but incoming is a problem.
“Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is
short of wagons. The delays are
not in transit – it is still two days
to and from Richards Bay – but
there are no wagons available for
Swazi goods. This is due to port
congestion and TFR tells us there
is a container shortage of 66 000
units. They are stuck at port,” said
Viagas.
He is in constant contact with
TFR, updating and negotiating.
MSC Logistics’ big clients require
such hands-on care: the garment
makers Tex Ray, Spintex and Leo
Garments, Swaziland Fruit Canners,
and Swaziland Beverages, which
produces Coca-Cola products.
Another big shipper is the
forestry product firm Sappi whose
Swaziland subsidiary produces
unbleached wood pulp from
locally-grown and harvested pines
and bleached wood pulp from
Eucalyptus, which is sold to Europe
and the Far East, all moving on
MSC ships.