Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the City of Umhlathuze have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration in promoting economic growth, infrastructure development and sustainable urban and port planning in Richards Bay.
According to TNPA, this strategic partnership reaffirms its long-standing relationship with the city and establishes a common platform to promote shared objectives and advance mutually beneficial initiatives.
The agreement, which was first signed in 2018, aims to create mechanisms for executive-level collaboration, effective dispute resolution, and coordinated project implementation, ensuring both entities can identify and collectively secure funding for essential projects.
Acting TNPA Chief Executive, Phyllis Difeto, welcomed the continuation of the partnership, emphasising its importance in aligning national port priorities with local government development goals.
“The MoU with the City of Umhlathuze reinforces our joint commitment to creating a thriving regional economy through collaborative planning and infrastructure delivery,” said Difeto.
“Together, we are shaping a more integrated and efficient development landscape that benefits both the port and the city, while unlocking new opportunities for investment and community growth.”
The renewed MoU builds on the achievements of a recently concluded five-year agreement.
Between late 2021 and the end of 2023, TNPA and the city addressed truck congestion in and around the port precinct. This collaboration paved the way for the development of the city’s truck staging facility in 2024 and the start of road construction projects within the port later that year. These interventions improved traffic flow, enhanced safety, and supported more efficient logistics operations.
TNPA and the city have also concluded a lease agreement for the Alkantstrand beach parking area, which will serve as a casting yard for the North Breakwater Upgrade Project scheduled to commence in mid-2026. This initiative underscores a shared commitment to balancing infrastructure development with environmental stewardship.
There are other mutually beneficial projects that are in the pipeline pending finalisation. These initiatives are expected to deliver significant economic benefits for the city and the region.
Umhlathuze Mayor, Xolani Ngwezi, welcomed the shared objectives in the MOU.
“The city fully embraces the cooperation and commitment in collaborating on strategic operational catalytic development, safety and security and environmental infrastructure of mutual significance. The city commits to work within the guidelines of this MOU,” said Ngwezi.
The MOU is valid for five years and supports strategic initiatives such as collaboration on the Ports Master Plan as well as upcoming investments, including the Container Handling Facility and Liquefied Natural Gas projects that are currently in the pipeline.
