Zimbabwe factor weighs heavily on the industry

KEVIN MAYHEW THE PROBLEMS in Zimbabwe continue to be the biggest factor influencing movement of road freight through Beit Bridge, with South African imports and exports to the country down on last year. According to MD of Beitbridge Border Clearing Agency (BBCA), Brian Kalshoven, transit freight continues through South Africa’s troubled northern neighbour. Slight increase “Since the beginning of this year, we have seen a slight increase in volumes through the border compared with a definable dip in the volumes at the end of last year. But the Zimbabwe factor still weighs heavily on the industry,” he said. He said there was talk of a lot of coal being exported from Zimbabwe to South Africa by rail, but he was not sure about the truth of this. Despite the downturn in his direct business, BBCA – which also has offices at Komatipoort where road volumes have picked up – has taken bigger premises at its location at the border post’s agents’ complex. The move allows a split of its operations and administrative personnel, he explained. “Road transport has changed over the past few years, with the lines being stricter on the control of their equipment. IDC’s state of the art computer programme ensures that you do not have to monitor and manage your cargo once it arrives at the port, it does it for you.” IDC operates out of the major centres of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.