Transport and logistics

The new Musina Intermodal Terminal is operating.

The official opening of the Musina Intermodal Terminal near the Beitbridge border post is further confirmation of Limpopo’s status as a leader in transport and logistics. Located in the town of Musina on the N1 highway leading to Zimbabwe, the terminal is used to move cargo from road to rail.

Warehousing facilities on site make for loading efficiencies in the main cargoes such as chrome, fertiliser, coal, fuel and citrus. Bulk and containerised cargo are handled, with an annual capacity of threemillion tons per annum.

Logistics is a vital feature of the Limpopo economy for two reasons – the province has huge volumes of minerals and horticultural products to be transported to markets elsewhere and the province is strategically positioned.

In addition to the N1 highway, the N11 is a primary road corridor and there are nine provincial road corridors. Freight volumes on the N11 (to Botswana and Mpumalanga) have increased since 2006, whereas the R33 carries less traffic.

The building of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ) will further boost Limpopo’s importance as a transport and logistics hub.

Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL), of which the provincial government is the sole shareholder, accounts for about a third of the budget of the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure. It has been successfully focussed on tackling a backlog of infrastructure maintenance, but it has also created partnerships with the national roads agency and private companies to deliver roads.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is involved in two major road projects in support of the Musina-Makhado SEZ. The N1 is to be re-routed and a new single carriageway created in the Musina CBD. A bypass into ZCC Moria, the site of huge gatherings every Easter, has been completed. Elsewhere, RAL is working with Implats to build 17km of road near the company’s Marula mine.

The Great North Transport company runs more than 500 buses.

Since 2014, some R2.6-billion has been spent by the provincial government on building bridges and upgrading gravel roads to tar.

Polokwane is the site of major investments in transport infrastructure. SANRAL is building a R640-million ring road and a bus rapid transport system is being introduced to the provincial capital. The scheme is called Leeto la Polokwane. Within the province more broadly, 22.6% of households in Limpopo use bus transport and 45.8% use taxis (2013 Household Travel Survey).

Outside Polokwane, the towns of Tzaneen, Lephalale, Burgersfort and Musina (a border post with Zimbabwe) are all important in the field of logistics.

Great North Transport falls under the Limpopo Economic Development Agency. The company has more than 500 buses, covers about 36-million

kilometres every year on 279 routes, employs more than 1 200 people and transports 37.6-million passengers.

In addition to ownership of Great North Transport buses, the provincial government has 26 private bus subsidy contracts. In 2018/19, R737-million was spent on bus subsidy services.

South Africa’s major logistics companies have facilities in Polokwane, and some have warehouses and forwarding facilities in other parts of the province. RTT has offices in Makhado. Limpopo’s biggest exports (minerals and fruit and vegetables) require dramatically different levels of handling. Minerals are poured in great volumes into the freight trucks of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and taken onward to Richards Bay Coal Terminal.

Companies such as Freezerlines, Fast ‘n Fresh and Cold Chain have developed specialist techniques in getting delicate fruits to market and to port undamaged. Grindrod has a Perishable Cargo division which specialises in transporting cargo by air.

The large national logistics company Value Group has only four major regional depots outside Gauteng: in Cape Town, Durban, Nelspruit – and Polokwane. This illustrates the importance of the Limpopo Province and its capital city in the national logistics chain.

IMPERIAL Logistics Southern Africa has 70 companies in its group structure, including Kobus Minaar Transport, a firm that began in Tzaneen transporting fruit and vegetables. Other active companies

Gateway Airports Authority Limpopo: www.gaal.co.za Limpopo Economic Development Agency: www.lieda.co.za Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure: www.dpw.limpopo.gov.za Limpopo Department of Transport: www.ldot.gov.za Roads Agency Limpopo: www.ral.co.za Transnet Freight Rail: www.transnet.net in Limpopo include Dawn Wing Logistics, Kargo, F&R Logistics and Aramex SA.

Polokwane International Airport (PIA) is wholly owned by the provincial government and run by the Gateway Airport sAuthority Ltd (GAAL), an agency of the Limpopo Department of Transport. It has the potential to be an important regional cargo airport.

SA Airlink caters mainly to the business market and offers 21 flights to Johannesburg six days a week. The airline also provides links between Phalaborwa and Johannesburg, and between Hoedspruit and Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Many game reserves have airstrips and regional airports in the eastern part of the province provide easy access to the Kruger National Park. Eastgate Airport at Hoedspruit is close to the Orpen Gate. Phalaborwa’s airport is notable for its African-themed terminal which includes a zebrapatterned floor. Musina, near the border with Zimbabwe in the north, hosts the province’s other regional airport.

Accelerating change to improve aviation.

Gateway Airports Authority (SOC) Limited (GAAL) is a strategic entity of the Limpopo Department of Transport. It has the fundamental responsibility of providing passenger and cargo services through its airport, Polokwane International Airport, while also providing aviation support services.

The geographical location of the province provides the airport with numerous business and economic opportunities. Limpopo Province, which is the Gateway to the rest of Africa, shares borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The airport is therefore a strategic entity to boost and to benefit from trade relations between South Africa and the rest of Africa.

GAAL’s annual performance plan for 2018/19 shows a clear understanding of the priorities of the Limpopo Provincial Government; purposefully to contribute towards the growth of the provincial economy and the creation of employment opportunities in line with the Limpopo Development Plan.

Customer services targets as set out in the annual performance plan will ensure the success of the ultimate strategic objectives as set out by GAAL.

Polokwane International Airport welcomes thousands of business people and visitors to our province annually. Our airports welcome millions of business people and visitors to our country. We are proud that our world-class infrastructure supports economic growth, job creation and contributes to the tourism value chain. Commitments

GAAL is committed to running the airport efficiently and ensuring we remain relevant while contributing towards the province’s economy.

GAAL is also committed to addressing the challenges to increase the frequency and number of flights as well as utilising bigger aircraft to unlock the latent demand in Limpopo and to build a culture of flying to complement the prevailing road travel preferences. GAAL is committed to its corporate social investment and to live up to its corporate citizenship responsibilities and to deliver on the plans and targets put forward in the annual performance plan.

All of these commitments are made with the prime objective of accelerating change in order to improve aviation in Limpopo.

Physical address: N1 North Makhado Road Gateway Drive Polokwane 0700 Postal address: PO Box 1309, Polokwane, Limpopo 0700 Tel: +27 15 288 0122 Email: marketing@gaal.co.za Website: www.gaal.co.za

The Gateway Airports Authority Limited (GAAL) provides aviation services and maintains the Polokwane International Airport.

Mission Statement To operate and develop public airports within the province of Limpopo To create an intra-Limpopo flight operations network to feed Polokwane International Airport (PIA) To develop PIA as the hub of the SADC region and the north region of South Africa In collaboration with our key stakeholders, to stimulate economic and social development for the people of Limpopo.

GAAL core values Passionate - Living our values and pursuing our goals, shared vision and commitment to our mission with passion Integrity - Enabling trust and respect in all our actions by doing the right actions all the time and being accountable and ethical Agility - Ability to move quickly, easily and accurately in compliance with aviation and other applicable legislations Commitment - Appetite and thirst for new challenges, and caring for the business’ success Customer-centric - Providing innovative all-round service delivery to the customer needs and positive experience

GAAL’s new CEO, Masingita Baloyi, envisages turning the Polokwane International Airport into a hub for airfreight and passengers by setting up a feeder network for all the airports within the province.

GAAL CEO, Masingita Baloyi

Masingita has a wealth of experience in aviation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Administration from the University of Limpopo and a programme in e-Commerce from UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership. He is currently studying for a Master of Business Leadership. Masingita has worked at the University of Johannesburg, South African Airways (cargo and revenue management) and First Rand Bank. He was GM: Human Resources of the Independent Development Trust. Before joining GAAL, he was a management consultant at ATA Research. T he Gateway Airports Authority Limited is a state-owned company under the custody of the Limpopo Department of Transport. Despite the entity’s listing as a schedule 3D public enterprise in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, it is administered in accordance with the Companies Act of 2008’s scope and limitations. GAAL’s mandate is derived from its articles of association dated 29 March 1995, which is for GAAL to act as airport manager and administrator within the province.

GAAL seeks to create prolific business opportunities to better maximise the utilisation of its assets and resources so as to generate sufficient revenue to be a financially sustainable entity that generates modest profits. Among other prospective business opportunities are the plans the entity has to lease 45 hectares of land to potential investors for business opportunities that will be in support of the growth, development and operations of the entity.

The entity is also currently looking to secure alternative passenger and/ or commercial airline operators as well as increase routes from OR Tambo International Airport to other airports such as Lanseria, Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport on a 1, 5, 7 schedule.

Another business prospect that the entity is looking to secure is that of a reputable restaurant that will operate from the Polokwane International Airport. Such business prospects will allow the entity to make the Polokwane International Airport an optimally functioning airport that serves the needs of its clientele.

Infrastructure The airport has successfully installed positive pressure ventilators in the airside as well as upgraded and maintained its runways and lights. Other completed developments include the construction of the JOC operating centre. An infrastructure development that is currently still in the supply-chain process is that of upgrading and maintaining the airport’s board signages.

Aeronautical services This service focusses on all airline operations, including private chartered flights.

Non-aeronautical services This service includes: general aviation, car rentals, travel agencies, retail stores, aviation fuel supply, hangars and office rentals.

Leeto la Polokwane increases momentum for faster, more inclusive growth that heralds an economic transformation in a sustainable way.

By Musa Ndlangamandla

As South Africa gears itself to be the next big emerging market story of 2018 (according to Goldman Sachs), the public transport sector is at the heart of reigniting economic growth and investment to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

A new study of transport systems in 35 major cities around the world has revealed that an efficient public transport network can provide these cities with an economic value of up to R3-trillion ($238-billion) annually by 2030. The best transportation systems are those in cities that can move people quickly, efficiently and comfortably to their destination. This is according to Londonbased consulting firm Credo, which conducted The Mobility Opportunity study.

Like other leading cities, the City of Polokwane is already achieving this with the roll-out of an Integrated Rapid Public Transportation System (IRPTS) that features modern infrastructure, easy connections across various modes of transportation, and, above all, a clear strategy of how to meet future needs.

Executive Mayor of Polokwane Councillor Thembisile Nkadimeng, above, asserts that an efficient and cost-effective

public transport system not only connects people to daily life but also spurs socio-economic development, sustainable job creation and improved access to markets.

The City of Polokwane was chosen by the government, through the National Department of Transport (NDoT) to be among 13 cities in South Africa to introduce the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN). For Polokwane the vision has found expression in the multi-modal transport service aptly called “Leeto la Polokwane” – It is Our Journey.

The project is implemented in phases with Phase 1 covering the Central Business District and Seshego corridor. The project has resulted in the construction of a trunk route and the upgrading of road infrastructure.

The majority of road infrastructure has been constructed, including the following: • a trunk route between Seshego and the City • trunk extensions • feeder routes • feeder stops • non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure • a control centre at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium • a layover facility • Leeto la Polokwane is characterised by dedicated bus lanes, modern buses, smartcard payment systems, modern bus stations that

are safe and comfortable, and a control centre to speed up public transport and give passengers a better quality of service Go-Live 2019 will in the interim operate kerbside until the depot and bus station are ready. Buses will in the interim be operated at the layover facility.

“We are well on track towards our Go-Live targets. We have set our sights on delivering the high-quality public transportation infrastructure that the City of Polokwane, and indeed the greater Limpopo Province, needs to build and sustain a more produc tive economy. The progress that has been made so far in the implementation of Leeto la Polokwane is testimony to this,” says Executive Mayor Nkadimeng.

Honouring Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu

Executive Mayor Nkadimeng adds that Leeto la Polokwane was one with South Africa in honouring the Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu Centenary. “The central theme for this year is to celebrate these great leaders and keep their legacies alive

by making an individual and collective contribution towards the attainment of a South Africa where everyone has equal opportunities for self-determination. As Leeto la Polokwane we note and acknowledge the cooperation and support of the people we serve. Such partnerships and dedication to a better South Africa continue to ensure that the project remains on course for Go-Live. These achievements are also a testament to the hard work and dedication that the City has tackled this project with,” she says.

Interaction with taxi and bus owners

Since inception of the project in 2012, the municipality has ensured proper and active stakeholder engagement. The taxi and bus industry is among the key stakeholders which fully participate in and benefit from the total value chain and wealth creation of the transportation industry.

“An MOA has been signed between the municipality and the four Taxi Associations involved in Phase 1&2 of the project. Working with the University of Limpopo’s Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership (TGSL), owner members were trained on the Taxi Industry Capacitation Programme with modern business and operational skills in order to create the space and capacity to ensure a successful integrated transport system for our city and value-add for the entire industry,” Executive Mayor Nkadimeng says.

In 2017, the TGSL programme successfully offered professional business development training to approximately 100 taxi owners across Flora ParkPietersburg, Moletjie, Seshego-Polokwane and Westernburg Taxi Associations in Polokwane.

Participants received a Professional Certificate in Business Management Skills for the Public Transport Sector upon completion. The programme comprises four modules, namely: Introduction to General Management; SA Companies Act and Corporate Governance; Communication, Problem-solving and Negotiation Skills; and Introduction to Public Transport Management.

“We have also seen the signing-off of the Great North Transport (GNT) Market Survey Results in October 2017, as an important milestone which presents the municipality

with a clear picture of the market share of GNT, a significant partner in the Leeto la Polokwane project. I want to emphasise that the GNT is an important stakeholder with a wealth of experience, knowledge and vested interest in the success of the project. This achievement also serves as a resource for understanding the value, amount and number of those affected in Phases 1 and 2 of the pro ject,” she says.

Through great effort and hard work by the project team, coupled with cooperation and unity of purpose with key stakeholders, the following milestones have been achieved, among others: • Establishment of the Transportation Directorate and appointment of a substantive Director of Transport Services to drive strategy and implementation • Significant road infrastructure network upgrades were completed • Full Non-Motorised Transportation (NMT) Planning and supporting by-laws/policies, awareness programmes, integration with donor-funded NDPG and MIG projects in terms of specifications • Signing of MOA with industry regarding sitting allowances

Signing of MOA with Great North Transport Completion of Market Surveys for GNT and taxi industry System naming The utilisation of council land instead of acquisition of private land The same design standards are being used across all grants in the municipality, eg same NMT on Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG); and employment of over 180 workers a month through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Meanwhile, Executive Mayor Nkadimeng adds that the systems and processes to deliver a world-class project were also put in place.

To date 36 Universal (UA) Compliant buses (21 x 12 metre and 15 x 9 metre) have been procured and installed with Automated Fare Collection (AFC) and Public Transport Management System (PTMS).

PTMS’s primary aim is to monitor the movement of public transport vehicles and increase the comfort of their passengers around the controlled urban network. It provides the means of dynamically monitoring the location and status of Public Transport Vehicles to determine performance according to prescribed route schedules and to identify any operational problems quickly. This is an innovative and complex system which has two major components: integrated e-ticketing and Automatic Vehicle Location by GPS (AVL).

She adds that significant progress is being made to have a fully-fledged depot.

“The project is a sustainable package of measures that will transform our province into a healthy and effective urban environment as it integrates Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with non-motorised transport, progressive land-use approaches and carrestriction interventions,” Executive Mayor Nkadimeng says.

“This has spurred economic growth in our city through upgrades in public physical infrastructure within a wellplanned spatial context and has ensured sustainable job creation while ushering in a clean, green, safe and healthy province. Such improvements have a positive impact in promoting local businesses and stimulating investments.”

At a national level, the project is aligned with the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP). Adopted by all political parties represented in the National Assembly, it is government’s blueprint to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by the year 2030.

The system will go operational before the end of 2019.