Viva National Ports Authority of South Africa!

Joy Orlek
THE SHIPPING industry turned out in force in Johannesburg last week to witness the official launch of the National Ports Authority of South Africa (NPA).
An impressive display of dance and music ushered in the new era, but did not detract from the serious message conveyed by Minister of Public Enterprises
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Jeff Radebe, as the restructuring of South Africa's state-owned enterprises gets underway.
"Government hopes to commence with the concessioning of port operations in the first quarter of next year," Radebe told more than 300 guests in Kyalami on Thursday.
"Organised labour has been regularly consulted around restructuring issues and government's doors have been - and remain - open to interaction with labour.
"A National Framework Agreement was adopted some years ago to protect workers' interests.
"Hence it is puzzling that Cosatu should choose
to embark upon strike action two days before the World Conference on racism, at the risk of disrupting this historically important conference."
The new corporate identity signals the completion of the divisionalisation of Portnet, creating a Port Authority and Port Operations division under transport parastatal Transnet.
"It will significantly enhance the service delivery process while providing distinct value propositions for particular niche markets," NPA CEO Siyabonga Gama, told FTW.
The restructuring model will be based on public-private partnerships, with government retaining ownership for port infrastructure through the National Port Authority which will be responsible for the maintenance and development of port infrastructure.
"At present the government is of the view that Port Operations should be concessioned to private operators. The Port Authority will receive the proceeds of the concessions, which will be utilised to develop and maintain port infrastructure. It will also be responsible for monitoring the concession agreements, all of which should result in higher efficiencies and lower costs to port users."