Durban — Shree Property Holdings has announced a R2bn, three-year investment programme to grow its logistics and warehousing footprint around the Port of Durban, with the redevelopment of two South Durban industrial sites into major distribution hubs with hardened container yards.
Sites, scale and timing
The company revealed on 16 October that it has acquired two properties long associated with large manufacturers: 1236 South Coast Road, formerly linked to Plascon, and 1400 South Coast Road, historically associated with Tiger Brands. Each site is earmarked for approximately 40 000m² of warehousing with hardened container yards. Occupation targets are March 2028 for 1236 South Coast Road and December 2028 for 1400 South Coast Road.
| Site | Planned roof area (approx.) | Occupation target |
|---|---|---|
| 1236 South Coast Road | 40 000m² | March 2028 |
| 1400 South Coast Road | 40 000m² | December 2028 |
Combined with neighbouring properties the group already owns, the 1400 South Coast Road development will form part of a consolidated industrial landholding of about 130 000m². Overall, these acquisitions will expand Shree’s footprint in the South Durban Basin to more than 700 000m².
Why Durban matters
Shree’s founder and CEO, Pran Shree, said the Port of Durban remains central to the province’s economy and to the group’s strategy over the next decade. He described the port as one of KwaZulu‑Natal’s “greatest economic assets”.
“The Port of Durban remains one of KwaZulu‑Natal’s greatest economic assets. Strengthening our portfolio around the port and the logistics corridors that support it is central to our strategy for the next decade,” said Pran Shree.
The South Durban Basin is a vital logistics node for Durban’s container traffic and for inland transport corridors. Upgrading and adding hardened container yards and distribution hubs is aimed at improving throughput and reducing handling delays linked to constrained storage and transhipment capacity.
Investment beyond the port basin
The R2bn programme also includes continued development at Woodmead Industrial Park in Shakaskraal on the KZN North Coast. The park is near completion and features nine industrial warehouses. The developer reported that Hesto Harnesses occupies a significant portion of the available space and is investing to expand its assembly operations at the site.
- R2bn committed over three years for property acquisitions and development.
- Two South Durban sites each to provide about 40 000m² of warehousing with container yards.
- Expansion will form part of a South Durban Basin footprint exceeding 700 000m².
Local implications and context
For Durban and its surrounding industrial suburbs, increased logistics capacity could ease pressure on container stacking and create additional distribution capacity for importers and exporters. The Port of Durban handles a large portion of the country’s container volume, and private-sector investment in land and warehousing supports broader efforts to unclog supply chains and improve the efficiency of modal transfers between sea, road and rail.
While Shree has provided targets for occupation in 2028, the wider benefits — such as potential job creation during construction and later in operations, improved freight flow and reduced congestion — will depend on final tenant commitments, infrastructure linkages to transport corridors and municipal approvals.
Municipal planning and transport authorities will need to assess potential traffic impacts on South Coast Road and connecting corridors as heavy vehicle activity increases. For local residents and businesses, the developments could bring economic opportunities but will also require consideration of environmental, noise and traffic management measures during construction and once fully operational.
Shree’s announcement follows increasing interest from property developers in logistics assets near South African ports, reflecting growing demand for close-to-port warehousing to shorten supply chains and improve last‑mile fulfilment.
This R2bn programme positions Shree as a significant investor in Durban’s industrial landscape and signals continuing private-sector confidence in the strategic importance of the Port of Durban for KwaZulu‑Natal’s economy.
