South Africa’s maritime sector transformation long overdue! Space must open for all South Africans to participate: Department of Transport

 

ships at seaPretoria: 09 February 2018

The launch recently of South Africa’s Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy (CMPT), coupled with the revised Merchant Shipping Act, as well as envisaged full implementation of the National Ports Act (No 12. 2005) can be expected to see rapid transformation of the country’s maritime economic sector, according to the Department of Transport.

Such transformation crucially will involve the deliberate creation of space for all South Africans to participate in the economic sector and with that process, the attraction of new and expanded investment and much needed job creation, Transport Department acting Deputy Director-General, Mr Mthunzi Madiya said in Cape Town.

DSC_3462He was addressing guests to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) annual Stakeholders Dinner held at the Mt Nelson Hotel in Cape Town on Wednesday evening.

As many as 60 guests – most of them major and lead players in the various subsectors of the country’s maritime sector – attended the event.

In his brief address, Mr Madiya said from a government policy development and implementation perspective, the country’s maritime sector no longer had an excuse about why it cannot rapidly transform as well as increase financial investment.

“The responsibility of government is to develop policies. On the 15th of July 2017, Minister of Transport launched the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy. It was a milestone for the sector for various reasons, as we were always reminded that the reason why there was no transformation was because there was no industry policy certainty and therefore we needed a policy.

“South Africa today has the policy that needs to be implemented. We want transformation,” he said, adding that Government was hopeful that the sector would be sufficiently incentivized to not compel the hand of Government to forcefully use the new laws to engender needed transformation.

He said a CMPT strategy would be presented to Cabinet for approval before the end of the current financial year. Once approved, the strategy would allow for the targeting of investment opportunities in especially what he described as ‘low handing fruit’; coastal shipping of particularly bulk and liquid cargo along the country’s 3200km coastline.

Also the revised Merchant Shipping Act of 1951 would  be presented to Parliament for formal approval in a few months, he said.

According to Mr Madiya, desperately needed and overdue transformation of the sector to create space for all South Africans would be all encompassing, inclusive of the utilization of the country’s vast ports land.

He said: “The National Ports Act is the biggest instrument to force the industry to transform. We are talking about what is happening in the real estate of the National Ports Authority and the Act responds to this. We feel we need to do something because that’s what the Act says.

“If your tenure comes to an end after 20-25 years, the law says you must vacate the port so that new tenants can come in and Transet has been very clear on this that whoever then participates, must have a minimum of 51% black ownership.

“We hope and we trust that we will be able to use those instruments to make sure that people who had never had an opportunity, are given an opportunity to participate in the ports space.”

Mr Madiya also confirmed the formal approval of the SAMSA Funding Model by the Department of Transport following a month’s long consultative process with stakeholders in the maritime sector.

He said with the approval, SAMSA could now begin to implement it in order to ensure a sustainable source of income going forward.

In addition, he said, a salvage strategy had also been finalized and the department would be engaging with SAMSA on what next was needed to be done to ensure effective implementation.

Further, Mr Madiya reemphasized the crucial role played SAMSA as the Department of Transport’s implementing agency, and that the department would do all in its power to ensure the agency was sufficiently empowered and resourced to pursue its mandate that includes the promotion of the country’s maritime interests locally and abroad.

To listen to the full speech of Mr Madiya, Click on the video below.

See also: South African shipowners for port efficiencies

 

 

SOUTH AFRICAN MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY (SAMSA) GAINS RECOGNITION FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION AND EMPOWERMENT

SAMSA to receive the honorary Oliver Empowerment’s ‘Legend of Empowerment & Transformation Award’ 2016. 

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20160315_105138Pretoria: 15 March 2016

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has warmly welcomed news of its being honoured with the prestigious “Legend of Empowerment and Transformation Award” at this year’s 15th round of the Annual Oliver Empowerment Awards – this in recognition of its sterling record in the arena of empowerment and contribution to the country’s broad transformation.

News of the pending bestowing of the award to SAMSA at a function scheduled for Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg next month, was confirmed by Top Media and Communications (Topco) editorial director Ryland Fisher to SAMSA Chief Executive Officer, Commander Tsietsi Mokhele at the weekend.

“It is with great pride (that) we will be honoring the South African Maritime Safety Authority​ (SAMSA) at the 15th Annual Oliver Empowerment Awards. SAMSA​ has been chosen by our Editorial Board and selected among an elite few of true empowerment ambassadors to be honored a ‘LEGEND OF EMPOWERMENT AND TRANSFORMATION’,” announced Mr Fisher.

Image courtersy of Oliver Empowerment Awards
Image courtersy of Oliver Empowerment Awards

The Annual Oliver Empowerment Awards, now in their 15th year are noted as the country’s premier accolades ‘for leadership and innovation in empowerment and transformation’ and have, according to Topco, “created a legacy of inspiration for the country’s business elite”, as well as “given South Africa the opportunity to recognize outstanding leaders – individuals or organizations who have exemplified inspiration, vision, innovation, leadership, and action for empowerment and transformation. Their success is legendary in the world of business today.”

According to Topco, the awards ceremony is scheduled for the Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg on April 14, 2016. The main guest speaker will be national Minister of Science and Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor.

Previous winners of the Annual Oliver Empowerment awards include individual luminaries such as Sizwe Nxasana, former FirstRand Limited CEO, as well as private sector companies and public entities including German carmarker, Volkswagen South Africa, Mckinsey & Company, Coega Development Corporation and Eskom.

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