FTW’s Ed Richardson takes a look at the transport-related implications of the Budget delivered by finance minister Trevor Manuel last Wednesday. Port concessioning decision due in November ED RICHARDSON A PROGRESS report about the concessioning of South African ports is expected in November, according to the Department of Public Enterprises. The department’s budget, released together with the budget speech of finance minister Trevor Manuel, states “an economic impact study on ports, completed in 2004, defined significant preparatory work for the port reform process. One of the outcomes of the study was a detailed assessment of the facilities and operations of the Durban Container Terminal (DCT), which resulted in a decision that the DCT would be used as a pilot for the container terminal concession process. “The decision created investor uncertainty, as the concession should not be dealt with in isolation from other port reform plans, such as the construction of Port Ngqura and the container terminal in the Coega industrial development zone. “The plan for the DCT will now be part of an integrated plan on the South African ports system, including opportunities for private sector involvement. A progress report will be finalised by the end of November 2005.” Customs and the Budget For an outline of some of the customs-related issues raised in the Budget, see Duty Online on Cargo Info Africa, FTW sister publication on the internet. www.cargoinfo.co.za
