Logistics companies in Gauteng know the pain points all too well: crowded highways, unpredictable transit times, rising costs, and a freight system that doesn’t always work the way it should. For years, moving goods between Gauteng and the coast has meant planning around delays rather than efficiency. But that may be about to change.
The proposed Port of Gauteng could mark a real shift in how freight moves through the province — creating new opportunities for logistics operators right where South Africa’s economic activity is concentrated. While the full impact will only become clear over time, the project has the potential to ease pressure on road networks, improve reliability, and give Gauteng-based logistics businesses a meaningful boost.
What is the Port of Gauteng?
The Port of Gauteng is planned as a 1,400-hectare, purpose-built multimodal logistics hub. Speaking at the launch of the Port of Gauteng White Paper in October last year, port developer Francois Nortjé summed up the ambition: “We’re creating Africa’s most advanced inland trade gateway,” highlighting the project’s potential to reshape how goods flow through Gauteng and into the rest of the country.
To support that vision, the facility is planned with scale and efficiency in mind. It will include two 2.2-kilometre flat rail alignments built for high-speed container handling, alongside integrated solar power, rainwater harvesting, and advanced recycling systems. The plans also feature a world-class car terminal and a container rail terminal, allowing for fast, high-volume throughput and smooth train-to-truck transfers.
Why does the Port of Gauteng matter?
The current way of moving freight simply isn’t sustainable. One of the project’s core goals is to shift millions of containers from road to rail, removing roughly 30% of the trucks that currently clog the N3. Container volumes on the Johannesburg-Durban corridor are expected to grow sharply over the next few years. According to Nortjé, companies like Shein and Temu, for example, are flying goods into the country for now, but as volumes scale, those shipments will inevitably shift to containers. Without better rail integration, the N3 simply can’t cope — and relying on trucks alone would turn it into a permanent bottleneck, pushing up costs, delays and risk for logistics operators.
This is where the Port of Gauteng changes the equation. By making rail competitive again, it provides the missing link needed to handle future freight demand more efficiently. With purpose-built rail infrastructure and fast turnaround times at container and vehicle terminals, the facility is designed to deliver the reliability shippers have been calling for.
Where will the Port of Gauteng be?
The port will be set in a strategic location south of Johannesburg, at the junction of the N3, N12, and N17 highways.
Who is the developer of the Port of Gauteng?
The Port of Gauteng is being developed by NT55 Investments, which owns 20% of the land designed for the project. Because of this, they say they have a “long-term commitment and vested interest in the project’s success.”
Is the Port of Gauteng coming in 2027?
While the Port will not reach its full potential until 2040, Nortjé believes construction should start by about 2027. The project was derailed because of a lack of private investment and disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are positive signs as Transnet has embarked on its open-access network initiative for third-party slot operators on the logistics utility’s rail freight network.
Above this, the Road Freight Association (RFA) has also publicly backed the project, recognising its potential to revitalise South Africa’s logistics network. They believe it will find success provided there is buy-in from the private sector and real road–rail integration.
Be positioned for what’s next in Gauteng logistics
As projects like the Port of Gauteng begin to reshape how freight moves through the province, the importance of location, access, and fit-for-purpose facilities will only grow. Newpoint Property Group specialises in industrial and commercial property, with a strong focus on logistics, warehousing, and distribution facilities across Gauteng. Secure a space that’s future-proof with our team of property professionals.
