By Eamonn Ryan
Perhaps the most structurally significant theme emerging from the 2026 policy agenda– framed by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s National Budget Speech – is the explicit endorsement of structured public-private partnerships (PPPs) in logistics infrastructure.
For SAPICS, this represents a decisive shift from state-only delivery models towards collaborative execution. As SAPICS president Thato Moloi notes: “These developments reflect an evolving policy approach: infrastructure delivery through partnership and collaboration. For SAPICS, this collaborative approach is key. Sustainable reform in logistics and infrastructure cannot be achieved by the public or private sector acting independently.”
Of particular relevance is the concession model applied to major port terminals, including the partnership with an international operator at the Durban Pier 2 Container Terminal – the largest container terminal in the country. President Ramaphosa indicated that this model would mobilise private capital and operational expertise while retaining public ownership.
For the cold chain, port PPPs are more than governance innovations. They are potential catalysts for tangible improvements: modern refrigerated plug points, faster reefer container handling, digital tracking systems and improved berth productivity. In a temperature-controlled environment, speed equals quality preservation.
Rail reform is equally consequential. Enabling private rail access and concession-based corridor management could shift long-haul refrigerated cargo from road to rail, reducing congestion, emissions and breakage risk. For exporters of citrus, meat and frozen foods, this improves reliability and aligns with sustainability commitments increasingly demanded by international buyers.
Yet PPPs are not a panacea. They require clear governance structures, regulatory certainty and transparent risk allocation. Moloi emphasises this broader collaborative imperative: “As a cross-sector representative body, SAPICS is well positioned to serve as a facilitator in this evolving environment – bringing together all stakeholders, including public authorities, operators, investors and end users like supply chain professionals – to strengthen collaboration frameworks.”
For cold chain stakeholders, the stakes are high. Pharmaceutical security, food safety and export competitiveness hinge on logistics precision. If PPP-driven port and rail reform delivers measurable performance gains, the 2026 budget cycle could mark a turning point for temperature-controlled trade.
But if implementation falters, cold chain operators will continue to carry the cost burden through backup systems, extended dwell times and risk premiums.
The cold chain does not demand rhetoric. It demands reliability. The 2026 budget has signalled intent; the sector now awaits execution.