A task team established by the We s t er n C ap e government to address congestion issues at the Port of Cape Town is making headway as it brings the public sector, state-owned enterprises and industry closer together.According to Glen Steyn of the Western Cape’s Re d Tape Reduction Unit, the task team, established in December last year, has already made progress on at least four of its ten priorities which range from a shortage of cranes to traffic f lows and effective communications throughout the logistics chain.Addressing the Exporters’ Club Western Cape last week, Steyn said there was now a much clearer line of sight of the port logistics chain in Cape Town as well as some understanding of the complexity of it all.“There are pockets of excellence in different parts of this chain, but unfortunately there are also huge chasms of mediocrity and even massive obscur it y, and big inefficiency.“ We have to realise how much can be achieved,” said Steyn, referring to the port’s achievement two weeks ago when it successfully exported 1600 reefer containers with fruit in a single week, the most it has accomplished in such a period to date.“I think we need to understand that there is goodwill amongst all the businesses, Transnet and the government, both provincial and local, to see the inefficiencies and congestion at the port addressed. There is a common objective and everyone wants to see the port work well, exports go out and imports come in. It is a benefit to everyone.”Steyn said several shipping lines had reported that they had seen improvements at the port. “We still have a lot of work to do, but already there is change at ground level.”Called the Ease of Doing Business task team, it meets once a month and involves all role-players.“This is not just the port that has to change and raise the bar, but rather every single cog in the logistics chain has to work on improving efficiency. It does not matter if it is the truck driver, an official in government, a planner at a shipping line or the owner of a freight forwarding company,” he said, “If everyone raises the bar as a collective we will improve the efficiency of the port.”
INSERT: There is goodwill amongst all the businesses, Transnet and the provincial and local government to see inefficiencies and congestion addressed.– Glen Steyn