EDITOR – The readers of Southlands Sun and in particular, residents of Clairwood and Wentworth, would be interested to know that the future planning of the dug-out port and all intended displacement of South residents in now almost at an end.
Developments that are taking place further to the north of South Africa will make present ideas about the harbour a total waste of time and money.
The shortest route by rail and possibly road is now in the advanced stages of planning the development.
Distance from the central heartland of Gauteng is the straight line about 10km to 12km south of the 26 degree meridian going from west to east.
Maputo’s rail link will soon be implementing its structure of a railway line from Maputo straight across the Swaziland landscape to an SA border town, Lothair. Already in existence is the SA rail link town of Breyten, then Springs. This railway line will only be about 280 miles to 320kms from Johannesburg to Maputo.
On the Mozambique side is the port which has yet to be developed and certainly the existing post would not be as costly to upgrade/develop as our intended dug-out port.
The present, huge financial costs of intended extensions to Durban harbour are not easily resolved. Neither central government nor Portnet are capable of giving any go-ahead.
Considering the distance from Durban to Gauteng and the two thirds shorter 280 miles or 320km, our huge costs would render SA uncompetitive.
The Maputo rail link is intended to be in operation by 2017 when the first trains carrying coal from Swaziland to Gauteng arrive. On the return journey, the intention is to load magnetite for export. What is also likely to unfold is the World Bank will involve itself in the expansion of the harbour at Maputo.
Common sense dictates we can for now completely forget this project.
