City’s port developments to boost poor communities

TRANSNET said new developments at its ports in the Western Cape, and around South Africa, should boost the fortunes of black-owned businesses and transfer skills to the formerly disadvantaged.

Addressing the business community at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Transnet’s general manager for strategy, Nico Walters, said two key strategic programmes drove the company’s investments and projects in South Africa.

Work on Cape Town’s longawaited passenger cruise terminal is expected to get under way in November and should open in time for the peak cruise season next year, according to Transnet bosses.

These were the market demand strategy, a seven-year plan that involved investment across rail and port infrastructure which aimed to grow the economy, create jobs, and improve the operational and general sustainability of SA ports.

The market demand strategy was now in its fourth year and Transnet’s Port Authority would invest over R56 billion during the seven-year time frame.

But those in attendance had serious questions for the Transnet bosses, including National Ports Authority chief executive Richard Vallihu, like what the plans were for small businesses who did not belong to the established chambers of commerce.

Businessman Moegsien Harris said “85 percent of Cape Town’s businesses were not members of the Cape Chamber of Commerce”, arguing that a way should be found to include them in Transnet’s procurement.

Operation Phakisa has earmarked the Port of Cape Town as one of the important hubs where at least R615 million will be invested over the next five years.

The ports authority also announced it was creating a special training centre at the Port of Cape Town, aimed at developing skills and creating jobs. The first intake of students will commence technical training at the centre in October 2017, with youngsters from communities on the Cape Flats, Dunoon, Joe Slovo, Kraaifontein and Strand being targeted.

Cape Town Port manager Sipho Nzuza said: “As an agency of the state we have a responsibility to develop technical skills, train artisans and develop engineers to ensure the sustainability of our ports and to stimulate growth.”