Renewed call for port privatisation following strike.

Three of South Africa’s largest perishable exporters have called for a review of privatisation of port facilities in the wake of the recent 17-day Transnet strike. Capespan, Colors and Dole SA say in a combined broadside of the intransigence between Transnet and the unions, and in support of Fruit South Africa: “We have lost faith in the ability of Transnet to manage the critical resources of our ports and request a serious reconsideration of the embargo of privatisation of our transport networks, in particular our ports. “Notwithstanding the vast amounts of money Transnet has invested into its ports, we continue to experience unsatisfactory levels of productivity lacking far behind even other African ports when compared.” The group believes that Transnet will never achieve a return on investment on its infrastructure development if productivity is not improved. “We believe the only solution to this historically chronic problem is to privatise port operations or at least agree to private partnerships as a matter of urgency.” The trio says further: “South African exporters have been working very hard in difficult economic circumstances to improve the image of South Africa as a reliable country of origin and supply. “This industrial action has on its own destroyed that position and competitors have and will fill that void.”