Question NW356 to the Minister of Public Enterprises

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet:

Multiple long-term strategies are being employed in the Ports of Richards Bay and Durban to reduce congestion in the port precincts. These include:

a) - Greater emphasis on the use of back-of-port storage facilities to minimize road congestion in the port. Durban is working on a mass container evacuation to the back-of-port facility to free up space and improve efficiencies in the terminal.

• Better traffic management in the city precincts through the truck appointment systems and cargo tracking app in the container terminals in Durban.

b) - Improving the rail transportation to and from the port thereby decreasing the reliance on road transport. Cargo owners are encouraged to take up rail contracts in Richards Bay for bulk commodities.

• Optimising terminal operations such as the implementation of a truck staging area in Richards Bay to reduce the number of trucks inside the port precinct.
• Better traffic management in the city precincts through the truck appointment systems and cargo tracking app in the container terminals in Durban.
• The root cause of inefficiencies at Richards Bay Multipurpose Terminal (MPT) and Dry Bulk Terminal (DBT) are mainly due to lack of investment in infrastructure. Competition has invested in far superior handling technology while RCB is still using technology from 40 years ago.
• The DBT will be investing in infrastructure through partnerships for major bulk-handling equipment. The MPT is introducing business process re-engineering and contemporary materials-handling-equipment to produce desired efficiencies.

 

 

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved/Comments

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date: