MEC Mireille Wenger on improving Port of Cape Town performance

• Published date: 27 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

It is with great concern that I note the Port of Cape Town's ranking at 365th out 370 ports measured by the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index report 2021, released this week.

While we know that 2021 was a particularly difficult year because of the impact of the Covid-19 global pandemic, we also know that insufficient investment in infrastructure by national government at the Port is a major, worrying factor. This will need to be urgently addressed.

I personally visited the Port last week to get an update on Transnet's operations, and I was encouraged by the spirit of collaboration that I experienced. This collaboration, which must include all levels of government, Transnet, and importantly, the private sector as a partner, will be essential to improve the Port's performance.

I am determined to ensure that this happens so that we can all play a part in ensuring a world-class Port that grows the economy and creates jobs.

That is why the Western Cape Government has already appointed a project manager in our Department of Economic Development and Tourism to work with all stakeholders in addressing some immediate challenges, and I am informed that we have been met by a willingness to cooperate and share information and ideas on how we can improve port efficiency.

It is therefore good news to hear that some noticeable capacitation interventions have taken place over the last six months. This includes:

The addition of the Liebherr 600 mobile harbour crane to the equipment fleet at the Multi-Purpose Terminal in...