Velile Dube, Transnet Port Terminals’ new regional terminal executive for the Cape, has promoted industry veteran Verdus de Jongh to the newly created position of chief planning manager for Cape Town’s container and multi-purpose terminals. The appointment of De Jongh, whom many regard as a true all-round professional, has been widely welcomed by the freight and shipping community in the Mother City. Industry has for a while been concerned at the overall efficacy of operations/ planning at Cape Town container terminal, one complaint often voiced that TPT is placing people in responsible positions for which they have no experience while those in the know are sidelined. Dube confirms that Brenda Magqwaka, formerly involved with operations and planning, will in future focus solely on operations, leaving planning in the hands of De Jongh. De Jongh, 54, with 35 years’ experience in container and combiterminals in Cape Town and Durban, most of it in operations, moved over to the planning department in the Mother City in 1998. Pleasantly surprised at his appointment, De Jongh is convinced Dube and regional assistant, Hector Danisa, are out to make a big difference in the Cape Town and Saldanha terminals. “They will carry the customer in their arms.” Dube says of his first “very constructive” meeting with the Cape Town Harbour Carriers’ Association: “My sense is that a dayto- day communication should be created because a lot of issues can be dealt with operationally and the monthly HCA meeting can concentrate on really important strategic issues to help with the flow of vehicles and goods in and out of the terminal.”
