The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Planning Commission has pledged its support for Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) multibillion-rand KZN Logistics Hub (KZNLH) development programme.
This follows a meeting held in Durban last week during which TNPA, led by the KZN-LH portfolio director, Bridgette Gasa-Toboti, shared a presentation with the commission on progress of the implementation of the programme.
The logistics hub is TNPA’s ambitious programme which oversees the expansion of the capacity of the Port of Durban and the Port of Richards Bay to focus the ports on servicing particular sectors; addressing congestion; improving efficiency; and making the two ports globally competitive. The programme is based on the two ports’ master plans, which include 33 flagship projects with an estimated investment of more than R140 billion.
KZN Planning Commission chairperson, Mzimkulu Msiwa, called for closer collaboration between the Planning Commission and the KZN-LH to ensure successful implementation of the programme.
“We commit to a collaboration with TNPA to ensure that the programme reaches the implementation stage. Through this programme, our economy is actually raising a flag, declaring to the world that, as a country, we are an economic force to be reckoned with. Therefore, we will give this programme our full support as the Commission,” said Msiwa.
Gasa-Toboti said the KZN-LH programme was a game-changer for the province, the country and the continent.
“About two years ago, when we first started with the programme, we understood that this programme is the igniter of new developments for our country and continent. It is for this reason that we have decided that the programme should both be promulgated and enlisted with the Presidency as one of the country’s key infrastructure projects.”
Both entities agreed that given the projected impact, a multistakeholder planning approach should be adopted to consider the required technology, safety issues and the development of human resource capacity to drive the programme.
