‘TNPA must market SA as a maritime hub’ – Morwe

Transnet National Ports
Authority must take
responsibility for growing
the South African ports
business, as it has
abdicated this task to
Transnet Port Terminals
for far too long.
Speaking at a recent
transport forum in Port
Elizabeth, TNPA CEO
Tau Morwe said that for
far too long they had not
been focused on growing
their business. “When last
did we introduce a new
terminal?” he asked. “We
only have an acting leader
in place and about three
people in the division that
are tasked with growing
our business. It is the Port
Authority’s job to sell the
ports and their efficiency
to the world.”
He said when the Port of
Singapore marketed itself
to the world they marketed
Singapore. “The same can
be said of many of the
ports in the world. In South
Africa, though, we have
abdicated this role to TPT.
They are the operators and
we should not forget that.”
According to Morwe, the
Eastern Cape was in the
unique position that it had
two ports in the region,
creating a competitive
advantage. “We as TNPA
should be going out and
telling the world about
this and about what is
happening here. We should
use it to our advantage to
create more volume and
throughput here.”
He said the last great
act of TNPA was the
building of Ngqura. “We
should realise that we have
the unique opportunity
to position South Africa
as a maritime hub in the
global sense and the Port
of Ngqura plays a critical
role in that. It is why we
are taking a more focused
approach and strategy in
2011 and 2012. It is a team
effort between us and our
stakeholders. There is
no sense in building this
expensive infrastructure
and then saying it is not
our responsibility if it is
not working properly. We
can’t pass the buck any
more.”
Morwe said it was
important to look at the
big picture when deciding
on projects to ensure an
integrated ports system.
“As a country we are soon
going to need to import
gas, and for that we will
need a new terminal,
but we can’t just put one
up. We have to look at
where will be the most
effective place. We have
to reach a point where
we are making the right
investments in the right
places at the right times.”
He said it was all about
creating the ports as
integrated gateways for
trade that would see South
Africa reach a greater
potential.