Crime is costing Africa
millions of rands
every year as it brings
to a halt capital
projects that drive its economy.
For Arne Fayd’herbe de
Maudave of Panalpina World
Transport, finding a solution to
acts of criminality – be it piracy
at sea or the theft of cargo at
ports or en route to a project
site – should be a priority.
“The risk to the industry
and to the development in
Africa where major projects
are happening up the East
and West coasts is enormous,”
he said. “Capital projects are
driving the economy of this
continent and if cargo gets
hijacked at any point of the
supply chain, it stops a project
immediately.”
He said
the impact
of crime
went much
further than
many thought.
“The grounding of a
project that could contribute
significantly to a country’s
GDP and that is employing
thousands of people is a major
blow to a country – especially
in Africa where these projects
are needed. All these are
elements that add up and
that make the payer of the
bill, ultimately the African
citizen, pay much more than
he should be paying. It is
costing them.”
He said the impact of a
$70-billion project coming
to a halt, with hundreds of
African people left unemployed
because of the acts of five
pirates on a speedboat with
an RPG, had major cost
implications.
And in light of the ongoing
economic woes in Europe –
with more pressure on these
countries to pull their navies
from the African coasts where
they have been patrolling Africa
– the continent will be forced
to find solutions to its own
security risks.
David Butler, managing
director of Southern Africa
Control Risks, said until
onshore security problems were
resolved Africa would never see
its piracy threat go away.
“Africa is going to have to
take control of the security
risks,” he said.
Already steps are being
taken, with a detention centre
having been set up in Mauritius
where arrested pirates are held
before being charged.
“There is also now a piracy
monitoring centre in the
Seychelles,” said Butler.
INSERT & CAPTIONS
If cargo gets hijacked
at any point of
the supply chain,
it stops a project
immediately.
– Arne Fayd'herbe
de Maudave
Until onshore
security problems are
resolved, Africa will
never see its piracy
threat go away.
– David Butler
