The Eastern Cape Provincial Government on Tuesday welcomed the decision by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), one of the six operating divisions of the Transnet SOC Ltd Group, to relocate its Head Office to the eMendi administration building in the Port of Ngqura in Port Elizabeth.
“This decision comes with massive economic spinoffs for the Eastern Cape’s provincial economy that will benefit the people of the province, their businesses, especially small, medium size businesses and those in other parts of the country,” said Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, Acting General Manager: Provincial Communication Service.
“Transnet National Ports Authority is the first State Owned Entity to relocate its head office to the Eastern Cape province.
“We are happy that the leadership of the Transnet Group and that of its National Ports Authority is implementing a decision taken more than 10 years ago in a way that shows their confidence in the provincial economy of the Eastern Cape.”
Sicwetsha added that now that “this progressive and developmental decision” is being implemented by Transnet’s National Ports Authority, “we are more optimistic that the leadership of the Transnet SOC Ltd Group will also be motivated to implement some of their decisions, which were also taken some years back, to invest huge amounts of money into the economic infrastructure of the Eastern Cape province”.
He added that part of that investment includes expansion of the Port of East London, investment into the rail network, revamping other economic assets of the group that include property portfolio in the province to stimulate economic activity that will help us grow the provincial economy, create jobs, attract investments and fight poverty.
DA also welcomes Transnet National Ports Authority relocation to Nelson Mandela Bay
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape also welcome the relocation of Transnet National Ports Authority to Nelson Mandela Bay.
“This is a much-needed boost for Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape as a whole,” said Bobby Stevenson (MPL), DA Leader in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.
“We trust now that the head office will be based in Nelson Mandela Bay, more emphasis will be placed on the relocation of the Manganese Ore Facility from the PE harbour to Port of Ngqura.”
Stevenson said that the manganese facility is a proven health hazard to Nelson Mandela Bay residents, with the fine black manganese dust regularly settling over the nearby residential and CBD areas.
“The high traffic volume of trucks, which often carry uncovered manganese ore, have also had a devastating impact on the city’s roads.
“We also look forward to the completion of a Liquid Bulk Terminal in the Port of Ngqura, and the relocation of the existing tank farm from the Port Elizabeth harbour, which is fast approaching its end of life,” he described.
“This, in turn, will free up prime seafront real estate that could be used to develop a multi-use waterfront facility, and act as a significant tourism boost for the Metro.
“Let us not stop dreaming about what Nelson Mandela Bay can become, with the right government in place. We must pull out all stops to grow our economy and grow jobs. This is what a capable state is all about.”