Lobbyists present sound case to government

Expansion could secure R15bn in investments LEONARD NEILL
THE EAST London business lobby group set up to tackle government over East London port expansion funding has attracted positive support. A detailed study presented to the city’s mayor by the appointed task team shows that the R5bn expansion proposal has the potential to secure R15bn investments and create 60 000 new jobs. Failure to go ahead could result in a R7bn loss in existing investments and place 16 500 jobs on the line. According to Transnet’s Francois Meyer, the parastatal had decided to expand capacity at those SA harbours which promised the biggest return on investment. No expansion plans were on the cards for East London, but, he added, this could change. “That’s not good enough,” says Border-Kei Chamber of Business executive director Les Holbrook. “It indicates Transnet has made it clear EL harbour does not feature in its future planning. Frankly, investor confidence in EL is not being matched by national government or its parastatals. We can’t accept this.”