Sale of Durban airport just needs a signature

South Africa’s state-owned airlines are considering King Shaka International Airport as a secondary regional hub in addition to OR Tambo to connect South Africa to the continent and the rest of the world. That's according to Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba, who met recently with the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize, at the Dube Tradeport in Durban. The visit to KwaZulu-Natal is part of Minister Gigaba’s Provincial Stakeholder Engagement plan which seeks to ensure that plans of SOCs are aligned with the respective provincial growth strategies and economic development initiatives. Briefing the media, Minister Gigaba also announced that “agreement had been reached but not yet signed", between Transnet and the Airports Company of SA on the sale of the old Durban International Airport, which Transnet plans to develop into a dig-out port. The proposed dig-out port will include liquid bulk and container terminals, as well as an automotive terminal. Minister Gigaba says Transnet plans to expand ports, rail and pipeline infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal and that includes expansion of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, Port of Durban and upgrades to the provincial rail network systems. “It’s important that we expand the rail, port and pipeline infrastructure to ensure we increase efficiency to provide the necessary backbone to the economy of the country,” says Minister Gigaba.