Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy on recently undertook a tour of the Cape Town Container Terminal, in which Transnet updated her on the terminal’s state of readiness ahead of the upcoming deciduous fruit season.
The deciduous fruit season, with a forecasted 3% increase in export table grapes, pomegranates, stone fruits, berries, apples, and pears exported, will start in November 2025 and end in March 2026. The terminal is an essential link between fruit producers in the Western Cape and international markets.
The terminal’s heightened state of readiness is a direct result of strategic investment in state-of-the-art equipment, focused maintenance, continuous process improvement and effective people management across Transnet Port Terminals’ (TPT’s) terminals, the operating division of Transnet.
In the 2025/2026 financial year, TPT plans to spend R4 billion in five terminals across KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. To enhance efficiencies, the Cape Town Container Terminal has received 28 brand new rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), with nine of the RTGs already operational. The second set of nine machines is currently nearing the end of the commissioning stage, while the last batch of 10 is being assembled.
Oscar Borchards, Managing Executive of the Western Cape Terminals, said: “We are approaching this season with confidence following recent investments in new equipment, which we look forward to using this deciduous season. These newer machines are more resistant to wind, which has been a challenge for us over the years”. The new equipment boasts both anti-sway technology and diesel-electric hybrid engines.
As part of its readiness, the Cape Town Container Terminal will be deploying eight gangs, increasing reefer plug points, and engaging extensively with stakeholders across the value chain to align on operational plans until the end of the season in March.
Borchards said: “These engagements, in particular, have been key in aligning expectations, identifying potential risks early, and ensuring a coordinated approach to delivery throughout the season”. He added that the terminal was ready to deliver a successful season.
Additionally, the Cape Town Container Terminal has put mitigation measures in place to better manage operations during windy periods. These include closely monitoring of the truck booking system when the terminal is windbound, which entails cancelling all appointments should operations be halted for longer than four hours. This is while the terminal will also follow a staggering approach on imports/exports stack dates, segregating reefers, empties and full containers to create fluidity.
The Cape Town Container Terminal will work synergistically with the Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal to manage peak periods during the season. Smaller vessels will be redirected to the multi-purpose terminal to reduce congestion at the container terminal.
Export deciduous fruits are predominantly grown in the Western Cape, with minimal Northern Cape volumes handled through the Cape Terminals.
