South Africa's impressive size, stretching over 1.2 million square kilometers, presents the first logistical hurdle. With an impressive geographical diversity, encompassing mountains, deserts, and sprawling coastlines, logistical complexities are bound to prevail. This vastness translates to longer distances for transporting goods, impacting delivery times and costs.
While the national road network is extensive, many roads suffer from poor maintenance, leading to delays and increased wear and tear on vehicles. Security concerns on some routes can force detours or extra precautions, while underdeveloped rural areas may lack proper roads entirely, creating logistical bottlenecks.
Further complicating matters, South Africa's rail infrastructure is limited and not always integrated with other transport modes like road and air. This lack of intermodal connectivity can increase the complexity and cost of moving goods across the country.