Great future for
city
With the imposing
view of the Port of
Richards Bay
including the
world’s biggest and
best coal terminal
in the background,
Minister of Public
Enterprises - Alec
Erwin shares
exciting prospects
for the City of
uMhlathuze and the
region with National
Ports Authority CEO
- Khomotso Phihlela,
Richards Bay Coal
Terminal Chief
Operating Officer -
Terry Howarth and
RBCT Executive
Chairman - Kuseni
Dlamini
Dave
Savides
THE City of
uMhlathuze will
remain the fastest
growing city in
South Africa for the
next 20 years.
This guarantee of
sustained and rapid
growth was given on
Tuesday by National
Minister of Public
Enterprises, Alec
Erwin.
Speaking at an ANC
fundraising dinner
at Tusk Umfolozi
Casino, Erwin -
whose portfolio
includes powerful
parastatals Spoornet,
Transnet, SA Port
Operations, National
Ports Authority, SA
Airways, Denel and
Eskom - said
billions would be
spent on Richards
Bay harbour and its
rail feed system.
‘A re-design of the
port’s 25 year
expansion plan will
commence in
consultation with
the City, to decide
in what direction
the port grows,’
said Erwin.
‘We will push this
very hard from
central government.
‘We have in fact
looked closely at
all the country’s
main ports,
identifying the role
each can play and
the possible
investments in each
harbour from now
until 2025.
‘We are now much
clearer, and as we
plan the ports we
will also plan the
rail links that
support them.’
Erwin, who said
R96-billion for
Eskom and
R64-billion for
Transnet expansion
had been allocated,
told the audience
the time had come to
rebuild South
Africa’s
manufacturing
industries.
Erwin said world
shortages of
commodities such as
steel, and lack of
trained
professionals, were
hampering South
Africa’s growth.
‘We cannot, for
example, source
train wheels in the
light of the huge
competitive demand
from countries such
as China and Japan.
‘We need to do it
ourselves.
‘This will not
happen overnight but
we started asking a
few months ago what
could be
manufactured in this
country, and by
whom.
‘Whoever it will
have to be
competitive with the
rest of the world in
price, efficiency
and quality.’
Erwin said there was
‘a real opportunity
for serious and
professional
business people and
that he would give
more information to
the manufacturing
industries over the
next few months.’
South Africa’s
manufacturing
investments over the
next five years will
be among the top
five in the world.
‘This is a huge
thing coming, a
great chance for
business.’
Earlier on Tuesday,
Erwin led a high
profile team on a
tour of the coal
line and the
Richards Bay Coal
Terminal
