If there was any doubt about Namibia’s intentions to provide logistical alternatives to South Africa’s freight frustrations on road, rail and at the ports, it was dispelled at a conference last week to promote the Trans-Kalahari Corridor (TKC).Held in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng’s transport heartland, one of the conference’s keynote speakers was Hippy Tjivikua, CEO of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), who outlined Namibia’s objectives to de-congest South Africa’s clogged-up cargo sector.
“Last year I went to Durban and saw for myself how serious the congestion is,” Tjivikua said.This sentiment was in stark contrast to comments a few months back from various Namibian logistical representatives that they were not trying to compete with South Africa, and that capacity expansion at the Port of Walvis Bay was in the spirit of greater regional collaboration.In reality this could not be further from the truth.“We have to find alternatives to moving cargo from South Africa through the TKC,” Tjivikua added.Walvis Bay, said Tjivikua, “is completely uncongested”.
And although some might say it’s because of low volumes, he said cargo f lows at Namibia’s biggest port were steadily growing.Ever since the launch of a new terminal at Walvis Bay last August, a 40-hectare facility with a 600m quay and box capacity that could easily be pushed to a million TEUs per year, WBCG has seen an “increase in transhipment and transit cargo into Zambia and the DRC”, Tjivikua claims.And although nothing was said about the Kazungula Bridge, currently under construction whe
re the Chobe River f lows into the Zambezi, that linkage ispected to fundamentally enhance freight efficiencies through Namibia’s panhandle to Walvis.Tjivikua though focused on the TKC and, apart from congestion experienced at Durban which is impacting copper belt cargo on the north-south line, also spoke about holdups at the various over-border crossings.Compared to the transit points of Beitbridge, Chirundu and Kasumbalesa on the copper belt corridor to Durban, where clearing could take a week or longer at one crossing, “calling times at border posts on the TKC are much lower”, Tjivikua said.
“On average it takes a truck 20-30 minutes before it goes through.”Little wonder then that the TKC conference was filled with executives from South Africa’s logistics sector, all interested in finding out more about Namibia’s logistics services.These include the Port of Lüderitz, “which used to be a little fishing bay. Now we’re sending out manganese from the Northern Cape”.
Tjivikua said since the reopening last year of the southern Namib railway line, part of what is called the Trans-Oranje Corridor, “seasonal producers of grapes and fruits from the Northern Cape want to see whether they can export goods through Lüderitz”.That interest apparently includes freight from the Northern Cape being sent as far north as Walvis.Yet it’s not all plain sailing for Namibia’s logistics.Walvis may prove too far for Northern Cape traders.However, persistent issues experienced at the Port of Ngqura, such as last year’s wildcat strike, compounded by cargo crime on South African roads, may make Walvis worth the trip for Northern Cape traders.
As for Lüderitz, it has a draught no deeper than nine metres. It means large vessels can’t call at this harbour, which is why considerations are to move the port to a different location.The fact remains, Namibia’s logistical ambitions are writ large and custodial concerns like the WBCG and TKC secretariat are looking to South Africa where supply chain efficiencies are going south.
