Concerns raised over efficiency of Durban, Richards Bay ports
Deputy Minister of Transport Lisa Mangcu voiced concern over the operational efficiency of ports in Durban and Richards Bay.
Mangcu wrapped up a two-day oversight visit on Tuesday at the Ports Regulator, where he was brought up to speed on a number of issues.
"The efficacy at the ports, particularly Durban is not encouraging. The machinery that needs to offload any cargo quickly and load cargo quickly is not properly maintained.
"The depth of the port doesn't allow the port to be able to attract big vessels to be able to move the commodities that would ordinarily be moving in the port of Durban."
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The regulator, an arm of the Transport Department, was given the authority to exercise economic regulation over the country's port system.
Mangcu says there's a need for improvements in some areas.
"In the port of Richards Bay our major concern is the failure of TFR to bring in the trains into the ports which will then allow the efficiency to move.
"You have for instance a rail terminal here that is supposed to move coal, but it is not in full capacity because we don't have enough coal coming in. It is the function of the authority not doing everything within its power to make sure that there is quick movement of the coal or any other commodity in the port."
