The 4th annual conference of the Global Cold Chain Alliance( GCCA) for Africa was held on 21 August 2025 in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Smart cold chain, stronger Africa
By Eamonn Ryan
The 4th annual conference of the Global Cold Chain Alliance( GCCA) for Africa was held on 21 August 2025 in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.
While the conference itself was held on 21 August, the two days prior were themselves packed with cold chain activities.
It commenced with a tour of Durban Container Terminal Pier Two, hosted by Transnet Ports Terminals( TPT) – a separate operating division responsible for handling cargo and providing logistics services at these ports, including operating the terminals where cargo is handled.
DURBAN PORT EYES CATO RIDGE AND BAYHEAD TO EASE CONGESTION VIA RAIL
TPT summarised dramatic improvements at Pier 2 since the low of 2023( the full context of which will be provided in a following issue).
In addition, the body is accelerating plans to alleviate mounting pressure at the Durban Port by expanding its use of nearby backof-port facilities – namely Cato Ridge and Bayhead – with a focus on shifting cargo from road to rail.
Officials said both facilities will play a vital role in addressing severe congestion challenges, particularly for refrigerated( reefer) containers. While Bayhead, located just five kilometres from the port, already handles short-haul rail transfers, its limited space means expansion will depend heavily on increasing throughput efficiency via rail.
However, the more promising site is Cato Ridge, situated further inland.“ The further away the facility, the more benefit rail brings in terms of cost and decongestion,” said a senior port executive.“ Truck-based backof-port operations simply don’ t solve the problem. Rail does.”
Transnet has revived its Bayhead terminal and is working with private sector partners to unlock the potential of Cato Ridge as a fully-fledged rail-connected hub. The site would serve as a drop-off point for exports and a collection site for imports – connected to the port by dedicated reefer rail services capable of moving 50 containers per train.
To finance these rail moves, Transnet is proposing a‘ green levy’ of R15 – R25 per container collected by road, which would subsidise rail costs and promote sustainable freight movement. With reefer volumes surging by nearly 30 % this year, port authorities are pushing for immediate collaboration across the supply
chain.“ We need to move now. The system is under strain, and rail is our best relief valve,” said the official.
KHOLD OPENS DOORS TO GCCA DELEGATION
The delegates thereafter shifted venue to nearby KHOLD.
Kees Anton van Welie, managing director of cold chain logistics operation KHOLD, led a behind-thescenes tour of the company’ s advanced refrigerated distribution centre at Durban, as well as an overview of its three facilities across South Africa.
KHOLD( pronounced‘ cold’ rather than‘ K HOLD’)’ s three major facilities each play a critical role in the country ' s food supply chain. The tour site, in Bayhead, Durban’ s largest refrigerated warehouse, said Van Welie. It is able to store about 16 000 pallets, with five multitemperature cold rooms and blast freezer rooms – ideal for quickly cooling
Paul Matthew, GCCA’ s director for Africa, opened the event.
Adam Thocher, GCCA’ s senior vicepresident of global programmes and insights.
Renier du Preez, CEO of Digistics and chair of the Africa Advisory Council.
John Steenhuisen, minister of agriculture, delivering the keynote speech.
produce. It caters to both frozen food( down to-25 ° C) and fresh produce( up to + 10 ° C) and also offers bonded warehousing and state veterinary inspection. Van Welie noted a recent shift in operations in this facility
due to a Brazilian avian flu ban, which has reduced frozen chicken imports, and the
All images by © Cold Link Africa
12 www. coldlinkafrica. co. za COLD LINK AFRICA • October 2025