DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — Fresh concerns are mounting over Port of Durban delays, with a growing backlog at the Durban Gateway Terminal (DGT) threatening KwaZulu-Natal’s logistics network and broader supply chains. The South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) has raised alarms regarding operational disruptions linked to a newly implemented terminal operating system.
As the largest sub-Saharan container terminal, the DGT is a critical pillar of South Africa’s economic performance, processing up to 3 million containers annually. It serves as a vital hub for Toyota equipment, a diverse range of imports and exports, and approximately half of the nation’s refrigerated citrus products.
According to SAFLA, the terminal is currently failing to process sufficient cargo volumes, with the bottleneck worsening on a daily basis. Highlighting recent operational data, the association noted a severe mismatch in throughput: while daily road transport gate moves hover around 1,500, there are approximately 5,500 import containers already sitting on the ground. With a constant influx of new cargo, this processing deficit creates a compounding logistical crisis.
The primary catalyst for these Port of Durban delays appears to be the recent transition to the Navis 4 operating system under the new management company, International Container Terminal Services (ICTS), which assumed control of operations earlier this year. SAFLA emphasized that migrating such a complex system over a single weekend is inherently time-consuming and disruptive. The transition forced more than 1,000 truckers, along with numerous freight forwarders and external stakeholders, to completely reregister on the new platform, severely impeding the flow of cargo.
These current disruptions echo previous logistical struggles at the port. In November 2023, the facility faced a massive bottleneck, leaving approximately 79 vessels and over 61,000 containers stranded at Durban’s outer anchorage.
Despite the current challenges, SAFLA maintains that ICTS is fundamentally capable of managing the terminal’s operations. However, the association stressed that the modern logistics environment is highly complex, requiring seamless coordination. A primary focus for the new management must be effective personnel management to ensure all stakeholders are aligned and operational efficiency is restored.
As of now, both the Durban Gateway Terminal and International Container Terminal Services have declined to comment on the ongoing operational delays and the association’s remarks.
