I received these pictures in an e-mail today. 15 minutes of surfing (the web kind) reveals plans by Transnet to procure the old Durban International Airport site from ACSA and dugout a new port to meet future demand and ensure that Durban remains Africa’s busiest port. Point of correction, Durban Harbour seeded this title to Port Said in Egypt a few years ago, so it would appear someone has a grandiose plan to bring about a mega development which is all honesty is ludicrous given the under-utilisation of Port of Ngqura (Coega) and its adjacent ‘white elephant’, the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ). Government realised after 10 years that Coega was not a great strategic investment. Current levels of activity at  Ngqura are due largely to volumes since diverted from Port Elizabeth container terminal and some new transhipment activity. As long as South African high port charges, piracy up the east coast of Africa and the efficiency of the Suez Canal persist, it is highly unlikely that the shipping conferences are going to increase their traffic around the southern tip of Africa.

The dugout development cost is estimated at R50 billion, with a further R100 billion to be spent on infrastructure and inland logistics. Was FIFA 2010 not sufficient warning on over-capitalisation with limited return? Unless our ports and inland logistics pipelines begin offering significant advantages over Namport, Maputo and Beira, developments such as the old Durban airport will never realise its fullest potential. It has to be admitted that the concept is brilliant and awe inspiring, but realisation of such is but a daunting pipe dream, me thinks! Transnet chairman Mafika Mkwanazi, is most optimistic insisting that the project will happen with development needing to commence in 2015 to be ready for 2019. I would like to share in this optimism but not at the expense of the taxpayer. Source: IOLProperty.co.za