The importance of the partnership between the South African government and business in the transport and logistics spheres was highlighted during the recent festive season, as dedicated members of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) gave up much of their personal time to assist in ensuring the critical N4 transport corridor to Mozambique continued to operate efficiently.
“This was a trying time as we faced a situation which was changing continually as the unrest in Mozambique ebbed and flowed,” explained Khulekani Mathe, the Chief Executive Officer of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA). “The festive season is always a challenging time on all our major transport corridors, including the N4, as increased holiday traffic competes with trucking operations which are still operational over that time. Add to this the volatile security situation in Mozambique and we had a perfect storm.”
On a few occasions in the weeks leading up to the holidays, the Lebombo Border Post into Mozambique was closed, causing serious congestion on the N4 for both transporters and holiday goers.
BUSA initially coordinated feedback from the various parties and issued regular bulletins to those in the transport and logistics industry with information on traffic flows and updates on the security situation. This sometimes also included a recommendation to the transport companies to recall or reroute their trucks to nearby depots rather than sitting in long queues of traffic since the primary concern was the safety and security of both drivers and goods into Mozambique.
It is not only mineral exports that are dependent on the efficient operation of the N4 corridor, but also a host of necessities for the people of Mozambique.
As the violence in Mozambique escalated, a multi-stakeholder group of interested and affected parties, including cargo owners, logistics service providers, and business associations, joined forces with the state and regional authorities in both South Africa and Mozambique to minimise disruptions and safely maintain the flow of freight into and out of the Lebombo entry point and at the port itself.
Virtual meetings were held as often as twice a day to provide updates on the latest situation in Mozambique, address bottlenecks on key routes and find alternatives for private and business transport. This sometimes included arranging escorts by members of the Mozambican army to ensure the safe return of trucks into South Africa.
“It was incredibly heartening to work with a large group of stakeholders who, without exception, were willing to give up their holiday time to help avert a potential crisis for both countries, and for this we are incredibly grateful to all concerned,” added Mathe.
“Even though freight movements over this time are at slightly lower levels given the holiday season, there were some unavoidable delays at the port, but the swift and decisive action of the response team managed to avoid any cancellations.”
The ability to quickly and efficiently communicate with the transport and logistics industry in South Africa has been strengthened by the development last year and ongoing distribution of the weekly NLCC Pulse Report. The invaluable industry tool, which was built on the back of a web-based logistics monitoring system, is proving most helpful in tracking, analysing and sharing logistics data across the country’s major transport corridors.
“The challenges at the Lebombo Border Post over the festive season highlighted the need for South Africa to strengthen its supply chain but also demonstrated the spirit of the Business Government Partnership which is collectively focused on building a sustainable and competitive transport and logistics network which will drive economic growth and job creation,” concluded Mathe.