OVERVIEW
Transport and logistics The first phase of the Moloto Corridor is nearly complete.
A
new flight has been added to SA Airlink’s connections between Mpumalanga and Cape Town. In addition to the regular early-morning flights out of Nelspruit Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) with a lateafternoon 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 the 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 the Kruger National Park. SA Express flies to Hoedspruit from Johannesburg and Cape Town. 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. Coal haulage puts immense pressure on Mpumalanga’s roads network, particularly in the Gert Sibande District and the Nkangala District. Road improvement plans aim to simultaneously fix rural roads and make better connections between rural and urban areas. The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has presented its long-term vision, Horizon 2030, as part of its contribution to the National Development Plan 2030. Road improvements which have boosted MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2019/20
46
SECTOR INSIGHT SA Airlink has a new flight to Cape Town. the transport infrastructure of Mpumalanga recently 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 with big companies to work on the R573 ensures that small companies are involved. Raubex Construc tion has formed a joint venture with Biz Afrika, Khuluphala Tradings and Themolo Business Enterprise. The R573 forms part of the Moloto Corridor, which connects