Transport and logistics

Anew flight has been added to SA Airlink’s connections between Mpumalanga and Cape Town. In addition to the regular early-morning flights out of Nelspruit Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) with a lateafternoon return flight, an early-morning Saturday flight has been added. This leaves Nelspruit KMIA at 7h40 and arrives in Cape Town at 10h05 and is targeted at the leisure traveller.

Nelspruit KMIA is the province’s main airport, serving both the capital and being a convenient entry point to the southern part of the Kruger National Park. Airlink has direct flights to and from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Livingstone in Zimbabwe.

Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport is a popular destination for travellers on their way to private game lodges and is also near the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park. SA Express flies to Hoedspruit from Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Middelburg Airfield is one of the larger alternate airports in the province, boasting a 1.9km runway that can accommodate a 737. The annual Middelburg Air Show is held in June. Many game lodges have airstrips and helipads. SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service operates out of the old Nelspruit airport just south of the city.

Coal haulage puts immense pressure on Mpumalanga’s roads network, particularly in the Gert Sibande District and the Nkangala District. Road improvement plans aim to simultaneously fix rural roads and make better connections between rural and urban areas.

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has presented its long-term vision, Horizon 2030, as part of its contribution to the National Development Plan 2030. Road improvements which have boosted

SA Airlink has a new flight to Cape Town.

the transport infrastructure of Mpumalanga recently include the upgrades to the R570 (linking Malelane on the N4 to Swaziland), the N11 (Hendrina-Middelburg) and part of the vital R573 Moloto Road, which carries huge volumes of traffic to Gauteng and Limpopo. Sanral’s three-year plan for the R573 allocates R1-billion to the project.

A clause in Sanral’s contract with big companies to work on the R573 ensures that small companies are involved. Raubex Construction has formed a joint venture with Biz Afrika, Khuluphala Tradings and Themolo Business Enterprise.

The R573 forms part of the Moloto Corridor, which connects

the province with Gauteng . The long-term aim is to create a coordinated road and rail corridor including rapid rail facilities. With about 50 000 motor vehicles currently using the route every day, it represents one of the busiest parts of South Africa’s road network. The plan to upgrade the corridor is one of 18 national Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPs). Not only will the corridor provide better linkages between the provinces and boost development along the route but improve access to the mineral reserves of the Waterberg region.

The first phase of the Moloto Corridor Development Programme, which involves the upgrading of road infrastructure is nearly complete. Accidents have been reduced as a result of the R3.7- billion first phase.

The Maputo Development Corridor is Africa’s most advanced spatial development initiative (SDI) comprising road and rail infrastructure, border posts, and port and terminal facilities. Run by the Maputo Development Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI), the corridor runs from just outside Pretoria in Gauteng, through Witbank, Middelburg and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, and on to Maputo in Mozambique.

The Maputo Development Corridor will receive a further boost with the upgrading of the Komatiepoort Dry Port into a Special Economic Zone. The National Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has designated the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) as the lead agent to develop the SEZ.

Rail

Another infrastructural development that will boost trade is Transnet’s planned Swaziland Rail Link (SwaziLink) project. A 146km railway line between Lothair in Mpumalanga and Sidvokodvo in Swaziland will

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport: www.kmiairport.co.za Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative: www.mcli.co.za Middelburg Airfield: http://middelburgaeroclub.com Railroad Association of South Africa: www.rra.co.za South African National Roads Agency Ltd: www.sanral.co.za allow for better movement of freight between the countries and provide a possible alternative route for freight through to Richards Bay.

The Mpumalanga rail system generates more freight traffic than any other province in South Africa and is of great strategic value. Transnet Freight Rail is the main operator and the chief freight movements are coal, fuel, chemicals, timber, iron and chrome ore, fruit, maize, animal feed, wholesale a n d r e t a i l g o o d s , s t e e l , building supplies, fertiliser and consumer goods. The port of Maputo in Mozambique is an attractive option for freight. The coal terminal at Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal receives the majority of the coal that is mined in the province.

A new rail siding is being built to service the Majuba Power Station. The 68km single heavy-haul track will be a private line that is projected to cost in the region of R5-billion and create between 3 500 and 5 000 jobs.

Private rail operator Sheltam services the coal-mining and ferrochrome-metal industries from regional headquarters in Witbank. The company runs systems, hauls raw materials and rebuilds and refurbishes locomotives.