Ports’ Business Continuity Plans must be top priority

I share the concern of businesses in the Western Cape that a prolonged strike by Transnet workers will severely hurt our economy precisely at a time when we should be creating jobs.

Every effort must be made to ensure that Transnet’s Business Continuity Plans (BCP) are fully implemented to ensure that our Ports and container terminals – as key arteries of our economy – continue to function.

According to Transnet’s communication on Friday, there are currently 5 vessels waiting outside Cape Town’s Container Terminals, with a further 10 vessels expected over the next 7 days. Ensuring that they can berth will be essential.

The Western Cape Government, through its Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), has offered support in helping ensure that these BCPs are implemented and that affected businesses receive information, so that exporters and importers continue to ship over this time.

In the end, our citizens will suffer the consequences of a disruptive strike, especially the thousands of residents employed in our rural areas who work in the agriculture sector. It is therefore important that consensus and a way forward can be reached as soon as possible.

A research study commissioned by DEDAT showcases the major importance of the Port of Cape Town to job creation in our province:

• Over 127 000 people in the formal sector are employed directly in the Western Cape because of the products produced or manufactured that are exported through the Port of Cape Town.
• A further 97 500 people are employed indirectly because of its induced impact.
• 55 000 employment opportunities are created because of exports, through the Port of Cape Town, originating from outside the Western Cape (31 000 direct employment opportunities and 24 000 direct and induced employment opportunities).

As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we face new pressures created by our country’s energy crisis, we cannot afford disruptions to growth and job creation. 

It is time to put our country first and think of the many people’s livelihoods that will be jeopardized by a disruptive strike.