Empangeni truck staging permanent plans outlined

Gate Zero truck staging facility, processing close to 1 000 trucks daily amid efforts to reduce congestion

19 seconds ago

Gugu Myeni 2 minutes read

Gate Zero has served as a temporary staging facility since December 2024

Awaiting the operation of Eyamakhosi truck stop along the John Ross highway, the Gate Zero staging site at the Eco-Junction continues to process hundreds of cargo-laden trucks destined for the Port of Richards Bay.

This is amid a cloud of criticism over the facility’s operations and costs relating to the staging trucks.

ALSO READ: Richards Bay queuing trucks continue to cause headache for motorists

The facility, which receives close to 1 000 trucks daily, has been doing the heavy lifting to reduce long queues of trucks on the N2 and the John Ross highway.

MTV Property Group, which owns the facility, stepped in as a temporary measure in December 2024 to help address heavy cargo congestion, which had become a daily nightmare for commuters in the City of uMhlathuze.

“Before Gate Zero began managing the flow of trucks into the city, the situation had reached breaking point,” said MTV Group’s Michael Cooper.

“The slow processing of trucks at the port created an extremely dangerous environment for local road users and caused extensive damage to municipal roads.

“Adding insult to injury, the cost of repairing this damage fell unfairly on local residents through municipal funds, despite the port being a national entity.”

Cooper said it was through the intervention of the late Deputy Mayor Christo Botha, ‘who recognised that no single party could solve this alone’.

“In a country where it is rare for a State-owned Enterprise, local government, and a private entity to work together on a seemingly unsolvable problem, Christo Botha made the impossible happen,” said Cooper.

He explained that Transnet and the City of uMhlathuze hosted multiple stakeholder meetings involving exporters and transporters.

“A collective decision was reached to establish an external staging area to manage traffic flow from the N2 to the port, and to provide drivers with humane facilities, including ablutions, a canteen and security.

“This achievement stands as a lasting tribute to Christo’s leadership and his deep commitment to the uMhlathuze community.

“Future plans Eyamakhosi is expected to be ready to take over the staging facility in September.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Trucks clog N2 as Transnet announces intervention measures

Cooper says this will allow MTV Property Group to finally proceed with its original vision of office blocks and industrial development on the site.

He said, when uMhlathuze’s initial staging area fell behind on its timeframe, MTV Property Group stepped in as a temporary solution until its original staging facility was ready to take over.

“The site was never originally configured to stage trucks. Nevertheless, fully aware of the dangerous road conditions, the company agreed to assist the city.

“MTV moved quickly and at considerable financial cost to ready the site, factoring in maintenance, potential rental loss, staff costs, investment stagnation, and the halting of its own development plans.

“The company is also beginning work to pave the municipal road leading to its property from the John Ross highway; a practical and beautification project that the group will finance outright,” he said.

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