Transportation

The transport and infrastructure sector has high importance in the Western Cape, both in support of other industries and businesses and as an economic driver in its own right. With three major ports, three national highways and two large airports located in the Western Cape, the business of transport is a major part of the provincial economy.

Transport (with storage and communication), accounted for 11% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007. Cape Town is connected to Europe through the SAT2 fibre-optic submarine cable, ensuring rapid communication. Transport routes and infrastructure is well developed in all areas, urban and rural.

The Western Cape metropolitan area faces particular challenges, given its unique geographical position. Transport and infrastructural planning is increasingly having to broaden its scope as the population grows. The physical barriers of the sea (west and south) and the mountain ranges to the east direct planners to seek creative solutions. The expansion of the metro northwards is somewhat constrained by the lack of water resources and the absence of public transport in that area.

The latter problem is being addressed through a bus rapid transport (BRT) system currently under construction. Dedicated bus lanes are being built along the West Coast road which will take commuters directly into town from the fast-growing areas of Table View, Melkbosstrand and Parklands.

A Strategic Infrastructure Plan (SIP) has been created to focus infrastructure spending (private and public) on things that will benefit most people. The broader iKapa Growth and Development Strategy (iKapa GDS) identifies those areas that most need investment. In terms of the iKapa GDS, three economic motors are identified: Cape Town metro, Saldanha/ Vredenburg and Southern Cape. Three regional transport corridors then connect the metro with each of these (the N7 northwards to Saldanha, the N2 eastwards to George and the N1 northeast towards the interior). In addition, two nodes are identified as ‘major regional development corridors’ – the Oliphants River Valley and the Breede River Valley. This model guides the planning process.

The provincial government allocated R3.5‑billion to transport and public works in 2009/10, which represents just more than 12% of the provincial budget. A sum of R1.67-billion will be spent on roads with several projects being completed in fulfilment of 2010 Fifa World Cup soccer tournament requirements.

Air
Cape Town International Airport is South Africa’s second-largest airport. It is run by Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), which spent R1.048-billion on the facility in the period 2008/09. The airport was handling 7.2 million passengers per annum in 2006 and is gearing up to increase capacity to 14 million by 2015.

George Airport is the second airport of significance in the Western Cape, handling approximately 700 000 passengers, though that figure is expected to grow to one million by 2012. With this in mind, Acsa has invested R43‑million in a three-phase expansion programme at George with the general objective of making the airport a more enjoyable and comfortable experience.

Rail
Cape Town has a good rail system. It is connected via three main lines to the West Coast, the South Coast and the central regions. Locally, the city’s commuter service spans 164km of track and over 90 stations, providing an affordable transport alternative for many citizens. The South African Rail Commuter Corporation has budgeted R1.2-billion to upgrade the railway network in the Western Cape.

An ongoing drive to direct more cargo to South Africa’s rail system is reaping rewards. The container and automotive division of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) showed a 13% market share increase in the two years to 2009 and revenue for the year to March 2009 was R1-billion. New customers who have been attracted to TFR since it started its new strategy two years ago include Maersk, Samsung, Safcor Panalpina and Woolworths.

Ports
The Western Cape has three major ports: Saldanha, Cape Town and Mossel Bay.

The Port of Cape Town is a full-service, general cargo port, particularly well equipped in its general container storage, cold storage and fresh-produce storage facilities. The port is undergoing a four-part expansion plan that will see its capacity to handle containers expand to 1.4 million units by 2010.

The Port of Saldanha is the deepest natural port in Southern Africa and can accommodate vessels up to a draft of 21.5m. The port was established to service the iron-ore industry but its services have diversified to include crude oil, general minerals and steel products.

The Port of Mossel Bay services the fishing and petroleum industries. The port is the only one in South Africa to operate two offshore mooring terminals, and serves as the oil rig supply boat base for the region.

Cape Town and Saldanha are ideally positioned to support and service the growing oil and gas sector along the African west coast, Saldanha in particular, with its deep berthing capacity. The Cape Town port and the adjoining V&A Waterfront also serve to support the tourism sector in the region. The working harbour is sometimes required to berth large cruise liners that visit the Cape, though the Waterfront is exploring ways to handle these larger vessels.

ONLINE RESOURCES
Airports Company South Africa: www.acsa.co.za
Air Traffic and Navigation Services: www.atns.co.za
Railroad Association of South Africa: www.rra.co.za
South African Civil Aviation Authority Online: www.caa.co.za
South African National Roads Agency Limited: www.nra.co.za
Transnet National Ports Authority: www.transnetnationalportsauthority.net