Page 28 - Logistics News - September October 2023

S A P I CS SP R ING C O NF E R E NC E

South Africa’s freight rail

and ports crisis in the spotlight

Urgency and hope were the key messages delivered in an important update on the National
Logistics Crisis Committee’s (NLCC) work at the recent SAPICS Spring Conference in Johannesburg.

Panel discussion on the National Logistics Crisis Committee’s work at the SAPICS Conference.

t the SAPICS Spring Conference, a panel discussion Africa cannot compete globally. Our products will not get to
addressed the status of the NLCC’s critical plans to market. There are no alternatives to ports. We cannot build
Adrive economic growth by improving the performance new ones. Trade will go to our neighbours,” he stated.
of industry supply chains, including South Africa’s freight rail
and ports. Echoing Dicks’s sense of urgency, panellist Mxolisi
Mgojo, who is a past CEO of Exxaro Resources and a key
Addressing the supply chain professionals who attended role player on the NLCC, noted that R50-billion was lost in
the event, Rudi Dicks, Head of the Presidency’s Project commodity exports in 2022 due to rail performance. He
Management Office, stressed that the situation is dire and said that mining companies are reconfiguring in line with
urgent change is imperative. “If we don’t see fundamental the current reality and delaying capital investment, which
changes in rail and ports, we are dead in the water. South is putting jobs at risk.

26 SEP T E MB E R/O CT O B E R 2023 www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a