‘Cost of transport influences the economy’

Hlubi Mzamo . . . facilitating economic empowerment in the port and the Richards Bay Coal Terminal. HLUBI MZAMO, new port manager of the Port of Richards Bay, did not expect to find himself at the helm of the port with the largest cargo volumes in South Africa when he joined the National Ports Authority (NPA) as marine operations manager in Cape Town 18 months ago. Mzamo had just settled down with his family in the Mother City when the NPA informed him that he was being promoted to an even more responsible position. From sitting in his office, which overlooks the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), he modestly concedes that although the promotion was wholly unexpected, he is encouraged that his continuous hard work as marine operations manager was rewarded so quickly. Mzamo joined the NPA in September 2001, and transformed marine operations in Cape Town into a profitable unit within 12 months. To achieve this, the University of Cape Town chemical engineering graduate tackled the whole business management process on the port’s operations side and worked to foster a business culture in the unit. Mzamo, a post- matric graduate from Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal, became indirectly involved in the ports industry when he discussed the cost of moving materials through the ports with various transporters during his years as project manager for Murray and Roberts. “Although every port serves a different hinterland, this brought home to me the realisation that the cost of transport influences the South African economy in one way or another.” Therefore, Mzamo’s goals as Richards Bay’s port manager include the improvement of efficiency and productivity at the port to optimise the use of existing infrastructure. He wants to ensure that all cargoes from Gauteng and Mpumalanga are transported through the Port of Richards Bay instead of the competing Port of Maputo. The port manager also regards the facilitation of economic empowerment in the port and the Richards Bay Coal Terminal as one of his duties. He believes the key to achieving these objectives is striking a balance between the various competencies in the business. Every department needs to have access to the other’s information as well as an understanding of the other business units. Mzamo’s promotion to Richards Bay port manager follows the appointment of its former manager, Basil Ndlovu, to the post of Durban port manager. Nozipho Sithole, formerly the Durban port manager, has been promoted to general manager for Ports and Corporate Affairs at the NPA head office in Johannesbur