Mott MacDonald, the global management, engineering and development consultancy, has appointed Rudie Basson as its rail and port practice lead in Africa. He will promote best practice and support professional excellence networks. Rudie will also assist with business development in the sectors, help support the company’s global rail and port business initiatives and build further links with Transnet.

Rudie has over 30 years’ experience of infrastructure projects, beginning his career as a site engineer on a new coal export rail line in South Africa. He joins Mott MacDonald from Transnet, one of South Africa’s foremost state-owned entities, where he has spent most of his career.

During this time he was directly responsible for Transnet’s ZAR340 billion (US$223 million) rail and port infrastructure expansion, including projects such as the ZAR6.2 billion (US$40.6 million) container terminal in the Port of Nqgura, the ZAR4.7 billion (US$31 million) upgrade and extension of container terminals in Durban and Cape Town, and the upgrading of heavy haul rail lines for Manganese and Iron ore exports.

Rudie also has experience as port manager in Cape Town where he was intimately involved in the start-up of the well-known Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a redevelopment of the derelict old part of the port. This was followed by a stint as port manager at Durban. Rudie spent time in the private sector where he was involved in export logistics, before returning to Transnet in 2006 to head up the port and rail investment programs.

Mott MacDonald is currently involved in projects ranging from initial planning and consultation, through design development and construction supervision, to handover. The consultancy provides services to both public and private sector clients, port operators, design and build contractors, public-private partnership companies and private developers. Recent projects include providing detailed design for a new dry bulk quay and oil terminal at the Port of Ngqura in South Africa, port infrastructure upgrade projects at Port Elizabeth, and delivering the outline design for new coal export facilities at Nacala Port in Mozambique.

Neresh Pather, development director at Mott MacDonald in South Africa, said:

“Our clients face a number of technical challenges and rely on us to deliver lasting solutions. Rudie’s ability to analyse situations, see the bigger picture and implement projects successfully makes him a fantastic addition to our existing global capabilities. Our clients will benefit from his experience and the knowledge he brings.”