South Africa will be vying to get back its seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council when it meets in November, deputy transport minister, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, told business and government leaders in Durban.
Hlengwa was speaking at the launch of MAN Truck & Bus South Africa’s announcement of a R48 million investment in upgrading the company’s Pinetown and Olifantsfontein plants to prepare for the manufacture of the country’s first locally produced electric buses.
An additional R800 000 was invested in staff training and development in new green technologies.
Hlengwa commended MAN for its investment. He said it was important that the country cultivated human capital if it was to master new green technologies and that this extended from roads and rail to aviation and the maritime sectors, which were also undergoing transformation.
“I want to also indicate that South Africa, as we go to the IMO Council in November and December this year, will be running for a seat on the Council,” said Hlengwa.
“We fundamentally believe that, with the vastness of our expertise, our skills and our capacity as far as safety is concerned, if you look at the work we do through Samsa (South African Maritime Safety Authority) and the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in Cape Town, and the heightened volumes of traffic we continue to experience on our waters, it is clear that South Africa remains a maritime nation which must have a global impact.
“It coincides well as South Africa chairs the G20, for us to have these conversations. The extent to which our maritime capabilities are alive is that we are the backbone of maritime on the continent,” he said.
“We look forward to the support of our partners, including business, for our bid to reclaim our seat on the council. This is not a vanity project, but it is one which clearly understands that, as we roll out the Africa Free Trade Area, it is clear that for logistics to work, South Africa must be at the forefront.”
South Africa was not elected to the IMO Council in 2023 when its seat was contested by 25 member states, although it had held a seat during previous periods.
