Transnet is undergoing “backdoor privatisation” or “private sector participation,” where private firms are taking over key logistics operations, rail corridors, and port terminals driven by the need for efficiency.
By Blue Africa News
South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued a request for proposals (RFP), inviting private operators to bid for a 25-year concession to finance, redevelop, operate and maintain the multipurpose terminal at berths B to D in the Port of Cape Town.
Transet says the successful concessionaire will be responsible for investing in the terminal’s redevelopment and overseeing its operations, as part of efforts to enhance the port’s efficiency and capacity.
The request for proposals was issued on July 17, 2026. The successful bidder will have a huge role to play in designing, financing, refurbishing or constructing, operating and maintaining the terminal before handing it back to TNPA when the concession expires.
According to the tender notice, the draft terminal operator agreement covers nearly 119,849 square metres of land. Under the agreement, TNPA will retain ownership of the port and the land, while the concessionaire will receive occupation and use rights.
“The terminal will be permitted to handle breakbulk, dry bulk, containers and other compatible cargoes approved by TNPA and the relevant authorities. Petroleum products are excluded,” as per a report by port news.
The deadline to submit proposals for the 25-year concession is November 20, 2026 at the Port of Cape Town’s multipurpose terminal.
Before then, a non-compulsory bidder briefing is scheduled for 6 August at TNPA House in Cape Town.
Reports suggest that no preferred operator has been identified and no investment figure has been disclosed. A few days before the tender launch, TNPA said nine of the Port of Cape Town’s 11 terminals were already privately operated, with the multipurpose terminal and a proposed floating dock identified as its next private-sector participation opportunities.
Sector players have welcomed TNPA’s move to issue a request for proposal to develop the Port of Cape Town, with Wesgro – the official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape framing it as direction toward “supporting the future growth of one of South Africa’s key trade gateways.”
“This is an important step towards strengthening the efficiency, capacity and competitiveness of the Port of Cape Town. Investments in port infrastructure play a critical role in driving economic growth, improving trade efficiency and supporting job creation,” said Wesgro in a statement seen by Blue Africa News.
“An efficient logistics system is also essential for enabling export-led growth, helping South African producers and exporters access global markets more reliably and competitively.”
This latest request for proposal follows the one in May, 2026, when TNPA opened the bid submission window seeking the appointment of a terminal operator at the Port of Cape Town, one of the busiest in the country.
TNPA in a media statement dated May 07, 2026 said the successful bidder will finance, operate, maintain, refurbish, and/or construct a liquid bulk terminal, including bunkering and related services for a concession period of 25 years.
The RFP allows for private sector participation to enhance liquid bulk cargo volumes at the port, while strengthening bunkering capabilities and revenue generation.
“By attracting a capable terminal operator, we aim to ensure that the site continues to operate efficiently while supporting regional fuel supply and broader economic growth,” said Ophelia Shabane, acting port manager at the Port of Cape Town.
The Port of Cape Town provides container, bulk, general cargo handling and ship repair services in the Western Cape maritime region, alongside hosting local and foreign fishing fleets, passenger liners, and recreational ships.
The authority is undergoing “backdoor privatisation” or “private sector participation,” where private firms are taking over key logistics operations, rail corridors, and port terminals driven by the need for efficiency.
By December 2025 for instance, Transnet had completed a partnership with International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) to operate the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2, a major step toward private participation in port management.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News
