A REPORT just released by the Centre for Development & Enterprise (CDE) warns port authorities to make long-term decisions when considering container handling in the Port of Durban, instead of short-term temporary solutions.
The CDE report describes Durban as South Africa's most promising global competitor, due to a combination of historical and geographic luck, political pragmatism, and a tightly knit focus of local business leaders. Compiled by Jeff McCarthy of the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Durban-Westville, the lengthy report suggests that both city and port authorities should be agreeing on long-term priorities for the harbour. The decision on future container terminal development is presently with a local advisory committee which is about to make a recommendation to Portnet and Transnet on where to build additional container facilities in the port.
The researchers hint that if Durban is to become the hub port in the face of competition from other Indian Ocean ports such as Dubai in the Gulf and Mumbai, then it will be necessary to make some environmental and recreational sacrifices in the bay.
The CDE says that avoiding these choices would probably lead to Durban becoming neither a significant tourist nor an internationally competitive hub port. The report added that the result would be a less preferable mix determined by short-term responses to pressure.
