MILESTONES/COMPANY TIMELINE

1850

Railway transport is proposed for the Cape and Natal harbours.

1867

Diamond is discovered in Kimberly, Northern Cape, catalyzing the need for railway and harbour expansions.

1870s

First the Cape (‘72) and later the Natal (‘77) railway systems become government property.

1886

Rumours of massive gold deposits in the Transvaal Republic (or the Witwatersrand) were confirmed. Almost overnight, economic power had shifted from the colonial south to the republican north.

1910

Union of South Africa is achieved and the South African Railways and Harbours (SAR&H) administration is established as an arm of the government.

1912

23 December: A Road Motor Services (RTS) of the SAR&H is introduced and it begins transporting goods in a 2-ton truck on a 20 miles road between Bot River Station and seaside holiday resort of Hermanus.

1930

South Africa had established itself as a proud and mobile nation. This achievement can be accredited to the opening of efficient mainline passenger links and an impressive network of urban and metropolitan train services.

1970s

Government agrees that the SAR&H should restructure itself along business lines.

1986

In the mid-80s, the country’s railway, harbour, road transport, aviation and pipeline operations become known as South African Transport Services (SATS).

1989

The goal of managing SATS as a private entity was well within reach.

1990

1 April: After 80 years of government and parliamentary control, SATS was given company status. A new, limited liability company, representing a vast transport network, was finally born.

It was renamed Transnet Limited. At the same time, the enterprise was restructured into units and divisions, with a strong emphasis on localized management.

2000

Road fleets of Transnet Ltd, namely; Autonet (freight), Spoornet CX (Containers Express) and Portnet Cartage amalgamate, and the new company is named freightdynamics and Container Services, the now Makhubu Logistics.

2002

Transnet takes a decision to dispose of logistics firm freightdynamics and Container Services.

2004

Transnet announces their four-point turnaround strategy, and confirms freightdynamics and Container Services as a noncore to its strategy and wished to dispose of it in terms of the government’s Black Economic Empowerment initiatives.

2006

Makhubu Logistics is founded to acquire freightdynamics and Container Services, a road freight business of Transnet Ltd.

2008

March: Entry of Makhubu Logistics into the road freight industry when we completed the acquisition of and took over the business of freightdynamics and Container Services (Pty) Ltd, and continued to trade as the latter for the next two years.

2010

Makhubu Logistics repositions its brand and streamlines its business strategy and operations to focus primarily on fuel transportation in the energy sector. The company now trades as Makhubu Logistics.

Additional source: Transnet Library, Umjantshi House, 30 Wolmarans St, Braamfontein, Johannesburg