JOHANNESBURG, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Enhancing the effectiveness and performance of the country's ports was crucial in helping South Africa's sluggish economy to recover and grow, President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his visit to the Port of Durban on Thursday.
He said measures were put in place to ensure that all problems being experienced were addressed.
"Significant progress has been made to reduce congestion and improve turnaround times at the port, as well as to increase rail utilization," he said. "A multi-party work team has been established together with port users to address key issues related to port performance."
He said state-owned company Transnet was working on growing investments in ports and ensuring rail infrastructure was maintained.
"Public enterprises and transport departments are working to implement structural reforms that will modernize and increase investment in the transport sector," he said, adding Transnet would form private partnerships with other businesses.
"Intensive work is being undertaken to determine the most appropriate way forward for corporatization of the National Ports Authority, as well as to introduce greater private sector participation and investment in port infrastructure," he said.
Jannie Rossouw, head of School of Economic and Business Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, said these ports of entry were significant in the economy especially in trade.
"They are important to international trade especially if South Africa wants to position itself as the conduit to Africa and especially in the Southern African Development Community. We need to upgrade the infrastructure to world standards," he told Xinhua. Enditem
