‘Pessimists should wake up to the province’s gateway to Africa status’

“History repeats itself” is a
phrase the mainly downbeat
Eastern Cape shipping and
logistics sectors should
have emblazoned in their
offices to inspire them into
ensuring that the province
does realise its potential.
At no time in the more
than 10 years that FTW has
been compiling a feature
on the Eastern Cape has the
mood been so sombre.
This, despite the opening
of Ngqura and the recovery
of the motor sector from the
disastrous 2008 slump.
So sombre in fact that
two shipping lines have
down-scaled their Eastern
Cape operations to virtual
skeleton staff.
But it is not all doom
and gloom – others are
investing, opening offices
and hiring the staff that
their competitors trained.
Perhaps they have been
trolling through some
history books and seen the
previous gateway status of
the province to the rest of
Africa.
Let’s take this one from
Country-data May 1996:
“East London handles
agricultural exports and is
the main outlet for copper
exports from other African
countries such as Zambia
and Zaire”.
That may have been out
of date even then – but the
fact is that East London
was preferred to Beira,
Durban, Maputo and
Walvis Bay. Those rail
links are still there. They
need work, and if Transnet
is not willing to invest
perhaps they should be
encouraged to concession
the South African leg.
Then there is the port
of firsts – first diamond
auction, first gold exports,
first IDZ, first deep-water
port, etc.
In fact, in 1877 Port
Elizabeth was the principal
port of South Africa.
Now, with its twin port
of Ngqura, Port Elizabeth is
positioned to once again be
a major gateway.
All it needs is for the
Eastern Cape shipping
and logistics fraternities
to see (and act on) the
opportunities.