By Amukelani Chauke
Cape Town – Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, says she is happy with the progress made in the implementation of Operation Phakisa in the oceans economy.
The Deputy Minister said this when she visited the Port of Saldanha in Saldanha Bay, along the Western Cape’s West Coast, to get an update on Operation Phakisa on Monday.
She held a robust engagement with representatives from the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), captains of the maritime industry and local and foreign investor representatives.
The Deputy Minister said it was critical that progress be made at the port to attract investment.
“I am happy that the industry responded positively to our call to come and sit and listen and talk and raise issues and be frank with one another, which I think is important...
“I am happy with the report that TNPA gave to say this is what they are doing and they are saying that we are still within the timelines and of course, how are we going to take the process forward.”
In the initial study in 2010, the oceans around South Africa were estimated to have a potential to contribute about R54 billion to the Gross Domestic Product and an estimated 316 000 jobs.
Further analysis undertaken in 2013, found that nine sectors of South Africa’s ocean economy could generate an estimated GDP contribution of R129 billion to R177 billion by 2033 and double the number of jobs estimated in 2010.
The Ocean Economy Phakisa was launched in July last year to focus in areas like Marine Transport and Manufacturing; Offshore Oil and Gas, Aquaculture and Marine Protection Services and Ocean Governance.
The Port of Saldanha, in terms of Operation Phakisa, was identified among several ports that would be rehabilitated and developed to be used as an oil and gas repair hub for South Africa.
The success of this project is expected to translate into the creation of an estimated 15 000 direct and indirect jobs.
Willem Roux, the Port of Saldanha manager, said the rehabilitation, upgrade and redevelopment at the harbour has commenced and that wreck removal was being concluded.
He said this project of Operation Phakisa was on schedule.
Roux also said the a transaction advisor had been appointed and that he had already developed private sector and investment models that would be used during the period when requests for proposals are sent out to investors.
Speaking to port authorities after they gave an update of the project, the Deputy Minister said it was not business as usual, and that authorities needed to speed up processes in order to retain investor confidence.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister said told journalists prior to taking a tour of the port that she would return to the port to monitor progress soon.
“The importance of monitoring is critical and TNPA as an entity reports to another department and I come in as a deputy minister who is responsible for Operation Phakisa because it is a delegated responsibility and they form part of our delivery mandate.
“For me as a politician, understanding everything as they explain, what I would really like to see is infrastructure and I would like to see a day when we say we are starting now,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
