Page 45 - Logistics News - Issue 01 - 2024.indd

N ATI O N AL L O GIS TI CS

economy – the people of South Africa, other African countries, The fix demands much more than bricks, mortar and
regional economies and, indeed, our international partners are machinery; it also calls for a revolutionary approach and
all affected. This conversation must continue, but it must be that is the need to rebuild logistics on new foundations.
accompanied by immediate action.” Intra-port competition is a practice we need to embrace.
This approach will bring about important, new dimensions,
“Over the last decade, our terminal efficiency has declined introducing greater efficiencies through the dynamics
by 28 percent compared to our internal targets. Benchmarked of increased competition and structured collaboration
against globally recognised best practices for ports of a similar between all the national ports – Durban, Cape Town,
size, current throughput at 84 percent of demonstrated capacity Ngqura, Gqeberha, Richards Bay – while enabling the
is 50 percent below norm. While the knock-on impact of the opportunity to benchmark performance among our ports,
situation cannot be underestimated, I am greatly encouraged on the fly and in line with new world standards.
by the stage we have reached – the open conversation has
widened the collaboration and great courage and determination Logistics is the oxygen that breathes life into the national
have been apparent across all the platforms,” says Dr Maree. economy. The renewal of an efficient multi-modal logistics
network and the rehabilitation of the rail system, alongside
The logistics sector is passionate and fully committed to the the upgrade and maintenance of the port infrastructure
solutions and wholesale transformation that are required. This is and equipment, are critical priorities to offer reliability of
evident in the way representative bodies have come forward and service, a principal KPI in the drive for excellence and, indeed,
leaders from across every sub-sector are standing up, calling based on the principle of shared infrastructure and shared
for reform and driving corrective action, with government right responsibility, a KPI shared by private sector and government
behind the movement. alike going forward.

Beyond the crises of today, fundamental changes are People are at the heart of the reconstruction. Excellence
required for South Africa to reclaim its rightful place as the through capacity building, skills development and a focus on
continent’s top, trusted enabler of intra-Africa trade here and a enabling integrated technology are recognised as essential
key player across global markets. strategies for the country’s economy to rise again. •

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