Page 29 - Logistics News - September October 2023

S A P I CS SP R ING C O NF E R E NC E

The NLCC has three key objectives. The first of these customs clearance and immigration. The teams’ short-
is to improve the operational performance of industry term focus was on the N4 and thereafter on the N3, N12
supply chains, including freight rail and ports. The and N2, he said.
committee is also implementing reforms to modernise
the freight transport system and restore its efficiency and Numerous successful arrests were a positive
competitiveness. Its final objective is to create enabling development in the NLCC’s security workstream. This
conditions for the freight transport system to operate workstream aims to secure railway, port and pipeline
effectively, including legislative changes and exemptions infrastructure. It has also established a link between the
where necessary to enable efficient procurement NLCC and the Joint Initiative on Crime and Corruption
processes and adequate funding of the network. (JICC). Currently, this team is assisting industry in
collecting incidents to conduct crime pattern analysis and
With more than 130 South African CEOs and leading crime threat analysis, Bird said. “They are also conducting
businesses supporting the NLCC and committed to resource assessments of existing security measures and
working with government to achieve these objectives, resources within industry, providing aerial surveillance
SAPICS Spring Conference presenters Dicks, Mgojo and capability and establishing an escalation mechanism to
Ian Bird offered attendees glimmers of hope as they report incidents for quick resolution.”
shared their insights on the committee’s progress to date.
He reported that significant work was being done by
Bird, who is the Senior Executive responsible for the the SA Police Service to secure the North Corridor line
transport and logistics focal area at Business for South from Thabazimbi to Richards Bay, which includes the
Africa (B4SA), stated that the NLCC has the attention of export coal line to Richards Bay and that the aim is a
President Cyril Ramaphosa. “Progress has been slightly crime-free corridor.
slower than we hoped, but we meet directly with the
President every six weeks to provide an update,” he Dicks reported that progress had been made in
informed SAPICS Spring Conference delegates. Non- unblocking inefficiencies in Transnet’s procurement and
executive Transnet directors have also been assigned to financing. “We are working with the National Treasury
each of the NLCC’s corridor projects. and Transnet to ensure the procurement process is
more agile and adaptive and that there are no delays in
Bird said that two NLCC workstreams formed procuring urgent spares and equipment. State-owned
in August have achieved milestones. “The Minerals corporations, including Transnet, are engaging with
Council of South Africa Corridor Optimisation Teams National Treasury regarding required exemptions to
have transitioned into NLCC Corridor Recovery Teams improve operational efficiencies and on procurement
(CRT), which are working on five key corridors. Terms matters relating to private sector participation
of reference and key performance indicators (KPIs) are transactions.”
being finalised per corridor, including the identification
of project teams. A central coordination centre and Dicks cited the example of a shortage of batteries to
self-regulation tool concept paper have been drafted. start locomotives. He said that the procurement issue of
Engagement sessions have been held with potential data taking three months to get them shipped to South Africa
partners to establish the central coordination centre. was a priority that would be resolved, along with other
A multidisciplinary team has been formed to address ‘nuts and bolts’ problems topping the NLCC’s agenda.
congestion challenges at the Lebombo border crossing “We need to communicate hope and we will make a
and N4,” Bird revealed. difference very shortly,” Bird concluded.

He also explained that the Border Management This year’s SAPICS Spring Conference was held in
Authority (BMA) and SARS were rolling out an efficiency collaboration with the South African Association of
improvement pilot programme, with mobile units for Freight Forwarders (SAAFF). •

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