Kingwill leaves for Capespan
Alan Peat
THE DURBAN management of Portnet's Port Operations Division (POD) is in for a major re-shuffle, according to chief executive, Tau Morwe.
The old structure of three portfolio general managers responsible for containers, bulk, and breakbulk has been reviewed, although the remaining portfolios of corporate services and marketing will remain the same.
In the new management structure Nad Govender will now be responsible for
the multi-purpose terminals (MPTs) handling breakbulk cargoes in Durban, Cape Town and Saldanha Bay; Cape Town container terminal; and the car terminal in Durban.
Mdu Nene will take over the iron ore terminal
at Saldanha Bay; the container terminal in Port Elizabeth; and the MPT and car terminals in East London.
Morwe also announced that Ronnie Kingwill, g.m. containers, has resigned with immediate effect to join Capespan as m.d..
He is replaced by Themba Gwala - currently the acting assistant g.m.
for operations, strategy
and capital investment. Gwala's new responsibilities include the MPT in Port Elizabeth; Durban's container terminal; and the dry bulk terminal in Richards Bay.
Morwe said he regretted the loss of Kingwill - who joined Portnet three years ago as g.m. Western Ports. "He formed part of the team whose work had culminated in the divisionalisation of Portnet into the Port Authority and Port Operations divisions," he added.
The old portfolio-based structure had given the POD problems, according to Morwe.
"They had had difficulty with developing a commercial and performance mindset within the organisation.
"They also battled with team cohesion."
The new team-based approach, Morwe added, would improve service delivery as well as improve ship turnaround times.
"We also aim to reduce port service handling charges - thereby helping to reduce the overall logistics cost of POD customers."
