Mpumalanga Business 2020-21 edition

OVERVIEW
Development Plan 2030.
Road improvements which
have boosted the transport
infrastructure of Mpumalanga
include the upgrades to the
R570 (linking Malelane on
the N4 to Swaziland), the N11
(Hendrina-Middelburg) and part
of the vital R573 Moloto Road,
which carries huge volumes of
traffic to Gauteng and Limpopo.
Sanral’s three-year plan for the
R573 allocates R1-billion to
the project.
A clause in Sanral’s contract
ensures that small companies
are involved. Raubex Construction
has formed a joint venture
with Biz Afrika, Khuluphala
Tradings and Themolo Business
Enterprise.
The R573 forms part of
the Moloto Corridor, which
connects the province with
Gauteng Province. The longterm
aim is to create a coordinated
road and rail corridor
including rapid rail facilities. With
about 50 000 motor vehicles
using the route every day, it is
one of the busiest parts of South
Africa’s road network. The plan to
upgrade the corridor is one of 18
national Strategic Infrastructure
Projects (SIPs).
The first phase of the
Moloto Corridor Development
Programme, which involves the
upgrading of road infrastructure
is nearly complete. Accidents
have been reduced as a result of
the R3.7-billion first phase.
A new flight has been
added to SA Airlink’s connections
between Limpopo and
Cape Town. In addition to
the regular early-morning
flights out of Nelspruit Kruger
Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) with a late-afternoon
return flight, an early morning Saturday flight has been added. This
leaves Nelspruit KMIA at 7h40 and arrives in Cape Town at 10h05
and is targeted at the leisure traveller.
Nelspruit KMIA is the province’s main airport, serving both
the capital and being a convenient entry point to the southern
part of Kruger National Park. Airlink has direct flights to and from
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Livingstone in Zimbabwe.
Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport is a popular destination for travellers
on their way to private game lodges and is also near the Orpen Gate of
Kruger Park. Middelburg Airfield is one of the larger alternate airports in
the province, boasting a 1.9km runway that can accommodate a 737.
The annual Middelburg Air Show is held in June. Many game lodges
have airstrips and helipads. SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service operates
out of the old Nelspruit airport just south of the city.
The Maputo Development Corridor is Africa’s most advanced
spatial development initiative (SDI) comprising road and rail
infrastructure, border posts, and port and terminal facilities. Run
by the Maputo Development Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI),
the corridor runs from just outside Pretoria in Gauteng, through
Witbank, Middelburg and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, and on to
Maputo in Mozambique.
Rail
An infrastructural development that should boost trade is Transnet’s
planned Swaziland Rail Link (SwaziLink) project. A 146km railway line
between Lothair in Mpumalanga and Sidvokodvo in Swaziland will
allow for better movement of freight between the countries and
provide an alternative route for freight to Richards Bay.
Transnet Freight Rail is the main operator and the chief freight
movements are coal, fuel, chemicals, timber, iron and chrome ore,
fruit, maize, animal feed, wholesale and retail goods, steel, building
supplies, fertiliser and consumer goods. The port of Maputo in
Mozambique is an attractive option for freight. The coal terminal at
Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal receives the majority of the coal that is
mined in the province.
Private rail operators Sheltam service the coal mining and
ferrochrome-metal industries from regional headquarters in Witbank.
The company runs systems, hauls raw materials and rebuilds and
refurbishes locomotives. ■
Online Resources
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport: www.kmiairport.co.za
Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative: www.mcli.co.za
Middelburg Airfield: http://middelburgaeroclub.com
Railroad Association of South Africa: www.rra.co.za
South African National Roads Agency Ltd: www.sanral.co.za
33 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2020/21