A ray of light, a dose of reality

There’s a heaviness that has hung over my recent columns – a pessimism I’ve struggled to shake – and for good reason: South Africa’s transport sector has felt broken beyond repair. But just when I thought I’d lost the last of my optimism, something shifted. A media release landed in my inbox. It made me think. And, for the first time in a long time, it made me hope.

I’ll admit it: I’ve been unusually pessimistic lately. My last two columns painted a bleak picture of South Africa’s transport sector. They were born from genuine frustration – with stagnation, disrepair, and disconnection between policy and execution. I have spent decades watching potential wither under poor governance and mismanagement and, more recently, the slow erosion of public trust in our logistics backbone.

A welcome surprise: ports positivity

With all that in mind, I read the latest glowing media release issued by the Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) with one eyebrow raised and arms crossed – not quite ready to believe. But then something unexpected happened: I felt a glimmer of hope. Neither blind optimism, nor naïveté, but something more cautious, more grounded – something that made me think that perhaps the tide is starting to turn.

The SAAFF headline was clear: “SA ports power ahead as throughput surges.” For once, the figures backed the sentiment: over 97,000 and 87,000 TEUs handled in successive weeks – 13% and 2% above target. An average of 16,359 containers moved per day over a weekend – a real jump from recent performance. Crucially, this wasn’t isolated to the usual suspects like Durban or Cape Town; even smaller, multi-purpose terminals chipped in. That, to me, is the very definition of a system beginning to function again.

Real progress, real people

“This performance underscores the steady progress being made,” noted Dr Jacob van Rensburg, SAAFF’s head of research and development. It was a sentiment echoed by CEO Dr Juanita Maree, who commended the teamwork across Transnet, terminal staff, and logistics partners. “We are seeing meaningful progress and renewed operational capacity,” she said.

It wasn’t just the ports. Maree pointed to improved cargo evacuation, the deployment of new equipment, and a rising sense of cross-sector collaboration. She highlighted R11.7 billion in foreign direct investment and a R21.7 billion trade surplus in May, suggesting green shoots are emerging – cautiously, but undeniably.

Words worth heeding

Inspired by her words, I reached out to Maree directly – since she’s a leader I greatly respect. I wanted to know whether this positivity was simply professional polish, or something more deeply felt. Her response was refreshingly candid and, quite frankly, inspiring. “South Africa has a remarkable ability to renew itself,” she began. “Despite persistent challenges, visible progress in key sectors – particularly energy and logistics – is helping to restore business confidence and unlock economic momentum.”

Her message went beyond infrastructure; it spoke to a national will to rise – a phrase she used deliberately. She referenced the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), a development she called “stabilising”. She spoke of public-private collaboration, of trust through accountability, of jobs needing growth and growth needing capital, technology, and above all, trust.

What struck me most was her unwavering belief that economic renewal is not only possible, but already underway. And for a moment – buoyed by her words and by Jaco de Klerk’s outstanding article on page 64 of this issue, “Getting Back on Track?”, which documents genuine efforts within government to rehabilitate our railways, I allowed myself to believe it too.

Reality bites back

But then, as so often happens in this country, the optimism met a wall. A well-written, highly informed wall – but a wall, nonetheless.

Two powerful columns landed on my desk soon after. One by Mike Fitzmaurice, a man with unparalleled experience in cross-border logistics, and the other by Nick Porée, whose expertise in freight transport policy spans over four decades. Both men have earned their stripes. They know precisely what they’re talking about. Neither is prone to exaggeration. And neither, I regret to report, is particularly optimistic.

Mike’s analysis of the North-South Corridor (on page 28 of this issue) is sobering: Durban, our flagship port, is losing relevance. Beitbridge, once a proud gateway, is buckling under costs and chaos. Regional transporters are avoiding us and rerouting through Botswana, Namibia, and even Angola. The reasons? Chronic underinvestment, policy paralysis, corruption, and violence – including truck attacks by the ATDF.

Nick’s piece, meanwhile (on page 10 of this issue), drills into the heart of South Africa’s logistics dysfunction. He describes government’s latest recovery plans as déjà vu: slow-moving, state-centred, and likely to repeat past failures. His call for open access, real private sector participation, and an end to state monopolies is not new, but it remains unheeded. He makes a compelling case that no amount of money or equipment can fix what is essentially a problem of accountability and will.

Between two truths

And so, I found myself caught – as I suspect many of us in the industry are – between two opposing forces: the evidence of real and measurable improvement versus the deep-seated structural problems that remain unresolved.

This tug-of-war is not new, but this time something feels different. Perhaps it’s the formation of the GNU. Maybe it’s Minister Barbara Creecy’s sober, practical approach to rail reform – as outlined in Jaco’s article. Possibly it’s her reputation for getting things done (a novel approach in what’s become an embarrassing ministry). Perhaps it’s simply fatigue. We cannot go on as we have. Maybe – just maybe – those in power know it too.

I still want to believe

I won’t pretend to have all the answers. Nor will I dismiss the hard truths laid out by Nick and Mike. Their warnings must be heeded. If we don’t confront the corruption, the inefficiencies, and the crumbling infrastructure, then no amount of good news will save us. But (and it’s a cautious but) I don’t want to be the Ebenezer Scrooge of the South African transport sector. Not yet.

Because I do want to believe. I want to believe that our ports can be world class, that our railways can move 250 million tonnes a year, that Durban can become a preferred trade gateway once more. I want to believe that we can attract investment not through flashy summits or glossy brochures, but by doing the hard, daily work of showing the world that we are open for business – and that we are capable of delivering.

The power of collective will

As Maree said, “Now is the time to harness the power of collective will.” And maybe that’s the note I’ll end on. We’re not out of the woods, but the path forward is there – if we have the courage to take it, together.