TERRY HUTSON Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin has held out the hand of hope to those who would like to see increased public participation within the ports. Speaking at a business breakfast in Durban last week hosted by Safmarine and the Mercury newspaper, Erwin reaffirmed that the two port divisions NPA and Sapo would remain state-owned but indicated that the concessioning of Durban’s Pier One Container Terminal remained a definite possibility. Erwin said the door also remained open for joint ventures between Transnet and private enterprise along the lines of existing J/Vs and added an assurance of an efficient railway between the port of Ngqura and Gauteng to ensure the new port would be competitive Upgrades in the ports and railways over the next five to seven years are underway, costing more than R40 billion and making this the biggest investment programme since the 1970s. Transnet was intent on unlocking new land surrounding the ports but further development remained dependent on co-operation from the relevant city authorities. “In future we will only invest in the ports if we have signed a memorandum of understanding that the cities will do the corresponding investment.” Erwin spoke of a twofold programme to regenerate Transnet and its operational functions while driving investment programmes. In 1994 Transnet had hit bottom but has since brought in experienced operators and fast-tracked skills development. “Eighteen months ago I worried about skills levels. Now I’m not so worried. Skilled people are returning (to South Africa) and technicians are graduating.” He called on stakeholders to invest not in the past but in the future. The National Port Master Plan, which looks ahead at the next 20 years of harbour development, has now gone through all the preliminary stages and will be presented for cabinet approval before the end of the year. Once it has passed this stage Transnet will take it on a series of roadshows to the private sector.
