New c.e. outlines port upgrade plans NEW PORTNET executive director Dr Sipho Nyawo promised Portnet staff that his new style of management would result in top managers being more visible at the workface.
The beginning of the new beginning does not take place quietly, Nyawo told a gathering of Portnet managers and their customers in Durban last week, and committed himself to all the principles of participative management.
For the first time in a long time we will streamline our business activities and align properly with Transnet as a whole in order to complement other business units. The entire Durban Portnet management was dressed for the occasion in smart new workers' overalls and caps, presumably to show their oneness with the labour force.
Nyawo also revealed that capital expenditure for the Port of Durban totalling R169,5 million had been approved, of which R66-million would be spent during the 1996/7 year. Of this R91,8m (R30m this year) would go to upgrading the container terminal and R51,4m (R24,2m this year) on new equipment.
Problems relating to container thefts were receiving urgent attention, he said. He announced that overseas assistance was to be brought in together with local security expertise to overcome this problem.
Our ports are too open and vulnerable. This we will remedy as a matter of urgency. We want to assure our clients that their cargo will be safe within the confines of our port.
