Mpumalanga Freight Logistics Forum

On this page:

Background
The Provincial Freight Logistics Strategy
MFLF Executive Structure
MFLF Secretariat
MFLF Funding
Bilateral & Multilateral Arrangements
MFLF Stakeholders
Operation
Invitation to Stakeholders

 

Background

In 2004, the South African Government's National Department of Transport started a process of consultation and engagement with the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Roads and Transport and all the relevant stakeholders within and outside the Maputo Development Corridor, on the drafting of a National Freight Logistics Strategy (NFLS).

As per the Strategy, the National Department of Transport, together with the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Roads and Transport, needed to lead the establishment of a Freight Logistics Forum (Mpumalanga Provincial Government Resolution 151/2005).

In June 2006 the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI) was appointed as the Secretariat for the Maputo Corridor Forum, to be known as the Mpumalanga Freight Logistics Forum (MFLF). On the 5th of September 2006 an introductory meeting of the MFLF was held in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

The 9th of October 2006, saw the very successful launch of the MFLF and the handover of the National Freight Logistics Strategy. This formed a significant element of the rollover of the NFLS in the Mpumalanga Province.

 

The Provincial Freight Logistics Strategy

In Mpumalanga it became apparent that the private sector, through the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI), had already started a process of governance within the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC), whereby significant progress had been made towards many of the NFLS objectives. Through various engagements with Mpumalanga's Provincial Departments of Roads & Transport and Economic Development & Planning, the government adopted a position of collaboration with the private sector initiatives on implementing the NFLS in the province, but with a clear understanding that on all these initiatives, Government, through the Provincial Department of Roads and Transport, would lead the process.

Parallel to the above-mentioned engagements, presentations on the National Freight Logistics Strategy (NFLS) were made to the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Committee (Provincial Cabinet), the Economy, Investment and Employment Cluster and to both the government and private sector. A provincial cabinet memorandum was subsequently approved on the establishment of an institutional structure for the Mpumalanga Freight Logistics Forum.

Subsequently, the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Council approved the Maputo Development Corridor and the Maloto Development Corridor as two of five key flagship projects in the province.

 

MFLF Executive Structure

The Executive structure is chaired by the Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Council responsible for Roads and Transport in Mpumalanga. Among the participants in this forum are captains of both public and private sector institutions who are able to take or influence decisions at the strategic level. To ensure inclusivity, organised labour is respresented in this structure.

The Executive Structure of the MFLF carries a responsibility to:

• Hold executive meetings at least once every quarter and later every 6 months.
• Deal with any matters referred to it by the Working Groups
• Advise the Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) responsible for the Department of Roads and Transport on any matters which affect the development of freight and logistics in the Province
• Mobilise programmes and projects from their own institutions/industries in support of corridor development and freight logistics
• Advise the MEC responsible for the Department of Roads and Transport on the implementation of the National Freight Logistics Strategy
• Oversee the implementation plan
• Advise and monitor strategies and plans to manage corridor initiatives
• Promote integrated planning across all levels of government and other stakeholders in order to implement projects of mutual interest
• Promote a common desire of reducing systems costs
• Contribute to the attempts to reduce transit time to make freight logistics more reliable to both consumers and suppliers
• Promote the reduction of externalities that continue to undermine the environment and fair competition
• Promote the system capacity by facilitating opportunities for other potential players to enter the market
• Adopt the Terms of Reference for the MFLF Institutional Framework

 

MFLF Secretariat

The MFLF Secretariat is responsible for:

• Updating of the community list with all relevant and correct data
• Compilation and distribution of the agenda
• Co-ordination of meeting arrangements
• Meeting administration
• Attendance and nominations register
• Minute taking at MFLF meetings
• Circulation of minutes to the Chairpersons of the work groups and the CEO of MCLI, within four days of the date of the work group meeting
• Co-ordination and distribution of the minutes and posting to website
• Co-ordination and completion of action points
• Circulation of communication to members
• MFLF budget administration and accounting
• Management of the MFLF Master File
• Ensure inclusivity through timely communication of information by the posting of minutes and presentations to the MCLI website and regular newsflashes
• Ensure relevant technical support for meetings of the Forum

 

MFLF Funding

• The Department of Transport (DoT), private sector and the Mpumalanga Department of Roads and Transport (MDRT) jointly contribute to the funding of the activities of the forum
• The Secretariat utilises funding provided by the above parties in the execution of its duties
• Each institution is responsible for funding of travelling and accommodation costs of its members

 

Bilateral & Multilateral Arrangements

It is crucial that the necessary frameworks for engagement between South Africa and Mozambique and South Africa and Swaziland be formalized to ensure the necessary level of interaction and participation of relevant stakeholders in Mozambique and Swaziland on corridors linking the Province of Mpumalanga with Swaziland and Mozambique

MFLF Stakeholders

Public Sector - National Departments

• Department of Transport
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Public Enterprises
• National Treasury
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Department of Home Affairs in South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland
• Customs of South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland
• Ministries of Transport of Mozambique and Swaziland
• Immigration of Mozambique and Swaziland

 

Public Sector - Provincial Departments

• Department of Roads and Transport (lead department)
• Premier’s Office
• Department of Economic Development and Planning
• Department of Agriculture and Land Administration
• Department of Finance

Public Sector - Local Government

District and Local Municiplaities

 

Parastatals and Private Sector organisations

• Transnet
• Spoornet
• CFM (Mozambique Ports and Railways)
• CPI (Centre for Promotion of Investment in Mozambique)
• BCOCC - Border Control and Coordinating Committee - South Africa
• CBRTA - Cross Border Road Transport Agency
• SANRAL - South African Roads Agency Limited
• NPA and SAPO - National Ports Authority and South African Port Operations
• TRAC - Trans Africa Concessions
• Port Maputo
• Maputo & Matola Ports Terminal Operators
• Cargo Owners
• Clearing and Forwarding Agents
• Freight Transport Operators
• Shipping Lines
• Financial Institutions
• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Organised Business
• Organised Labour

 

Operation

The MFLF does its work through regular meetings which focus on specific or combined sectors within the Modal Working Group (e.g. Aviation, Landside and Maritime sectors) as well as through management and executive meetings. The regular Modal Working Group meetings offer stakeholders a platform for consultation whilst at the same time keeping the public abreast of new developments.

 

Invitation to Stakeholders

If you are a stakeholder in the Mpumalanga freight logistics sector and are not already participating in the Forum, we invite you to participate. Your involvement is crucial to the successful implementation of the National Freight Logistics Strategy in the province. Please contact the MFLF Secretariat to be informed about current and future developments through the mailing list. Be advised that it is a high volume mailing list.