... as government prepares to
examine input
Joy Orlek
A ROBUST ports policy is an essential precondition for successful port reform.
This was the consensus at a stakeholder gathering co-ordinated by the SA Chamber of Business in Johannesburg last week where National Department of Transport (DoT) policy adviser, Sinethemba Mngqibisa, provided an insight into the recently released Draft White Paper on National Commercial Ports Policy.
The 26-page document outlines the long-term strategy of government as well as interim arrangements.
Mngqibisa said that government would retain a regulatory role, although this would be kept to a minimum. It was keen to see the user pay principle enforced and he assured all stakeholders that there would, without question, be fair and equal treatment for all.
He made it clear that the DoT wanted to see ports developed as part of the whole transport system and not in isolation. In terms of port closure, he said the National Ports Authority (NPA) would not be able to close ports without a thorough investigation.
Stakeholders who attended the meeting - including representatives from Chambers of Commerce, the Association of Shipping Lines and the Association of Ships Agents and Brokers - were concerned at an apparent lack of substance in some areas of the report. Very little is said, for example, about the process of Government reducing its direct involvement in operations and the provision of infrastructure.
However a word of caution was sounded by Department of Public Enterprises director: restructuring of state-owned enterprises, Richard Goode. "Before we fast forward to concessioning and the way port reform is progressed, it's crucial that a policy that reflects what is required for South Africa is in place," he said.
Mngqibisa assured attendees that all input would be consolidated and taken back to parliament before the draft policy was approved as a white paper.
Written submission
A written submission from the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry criticises the draft policy for not dealing with certain issues in sufficient detail to give clear guidance on the future of SA ports.
The Chamber questioned the extent of the regulatory rights of the different bodies discussed.
"Against the background of abuse that has prevailed in the port system over the past decade, we believe that a separate ports regulatory body should be established for a five year period, dedicated to dealing with port regulatory issues."
Its detailed submission covers a host of other issues related to competition, port development, industry representation and transparency in the remainder of the process.
All these comments, together with other private sector input for which the final deadline was Wednesday (October 31), will be examined and discussed before the final version of the white paper is produced.
