Dig-out victory for people: D’Sa

SOUTH Durban communities who have been organising against the proposed Durban dig-out port have claimed victory after its construction was pushed back by 16 years.

Transnet National Ports Authority chief executive Richard Vallihu issued a statement yesterday, confirming the first phase of the reported R75-R100 billion development had been “re-baselined”.

“The proposed Durban dig-out port fits within the context of broader plans to increase the handling capacity of the Durban container precinct in the Port of Durban. Based on current forecasts, the project… will only be required in the year 2032,” read the statement.

Desmond D’Sa, of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, which had led community development, said he believed civil society pressure against the port had influenced the delay.

“We have been fighting this since 2012 and this is definitely a victory for the people.

“We are developing an alternative plan to create a people’s economy, moving away from big business and dirty industries.

“We want to create a sustainable manufacturing industry so that we don’t need increased capacity in our port to import products,” said D’Sa.