President Cyril Ramaphosa led an oversight visit to the Port of Durban to assess progress made in enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of the port.
Improving the performance of South Africa’s ports, especially the Port of Durban, is a central objective of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan and a key focus area of Operation Vulindlela
.
Significant progress has been made to reduce congestion and improve turnaround times at the port, as well as to increase rail utilisation. A multi-party work team has been established together with port users to address key issues related to port performance.
While this progress is a reflection of the hard work that is being done to reposition the port, there is still much work remaining to ensure that the port system serves the needs of the economy and promotes growth.
The new management of Transnet and its operating divisions are focused on improving operational performance, increasing investment in port and rail infrastructure and ensuring adequate maintenance of equipment.
The President received a detailed briefing on the Port of Durban Masterplan, which includes ambitious expansion plans to enable the port to handle larger container volumes and to act as a hub-port for the southern hemisphere.
The President said: “The plans that Transnet has laid out will be a game-changer for the Port of Durban, as well as for the city, the province and the country as a whole.”
The Department of Public Enterprises and the Department of Transport, with support from Operation Vulindlela, are working to implement structural reforms that will modernise and transform the transport sector. This includes measures to introduce greater private sector participation and investment in port infrastructure to support the Masterplan.
These efforts will reinforce South Africa’s position as a competitive trading nation, and as a gateway for the region and the continent.
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