The Durban EDGE kicks off its Transformation Series of articles with a critical and hard look at the challenges at the Durban Port and inland freight transport.

In this opinion paper, Dr Ajiv Maharaj, Nick Poree and Prof Jeff McCarthy argue that disintegrated planning and narrow organisational drivers are subverting what's in the best interest of the country.

They highlight that the national infrastructure plan does not provide sufficient priority or mega projects to address the challenges of road freight and if not addressed, will lead to the benefits of ACFTA bypassing SA.

The paper calls for the greater prioritisation of investment into road freight between Durban and Gauteng and proposes an alternative to the N3, which will unlock industrialisation and growth.