Economic boost for KZN: Transnet's new cranes and Prasa's rail

As part of Durban port and rail revitalisation, Transnet and Passenger Rail Association of South Africa (Prasa) have announced a massive infrastructure investment in KwaZulu-Natal.

The two public entities presented the revitalisation plans of its infrastructure at the provincial government lekgotla (strategic planning session). The two-day summit which began on Tuesday and ended on Wednesday heard presentations from the various private sector and public entities which entailed plans to grow the economy and create jobs.

Transnet announced the purchase of the giant cranes, buoyed by the recent Durban High Court victory which validated their tender contract with Filipino company, International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Judge Mahendra Chetty dismissed Maersk's APM Terminals' challenge to the awarding of the tender to the company. In 2023, Transnet issued a tender to partner with a private company to run the busiest harbour in Africa, however, the award was challenged in court.

Transnet Durban port spokesperson, Mbali Mathenjwa, said the cranes will be unveiled next week.

“Äll information will be in the press release that will be issued on the day of the launch,” said Mathenjwa.

According to the presentation, the ship to offshore giant cranes will speed up the offloading of containers which will clear the backlog of ships and enhance the delivery of goods to the inland of the country and in Southern African countries.

Transnet has been struggling with a cargo ship backlog which usually spends months in the sea waiting to dock in the Durban harbour.

Prasa also announced the trains from Durban to Pietermaritzburg will return as soon as the reconstruction of the railway lines between two cities is nearing completion. Prasa further announced that the lines linking KwaDukuza in the north and Port Shepstone in the south of the province will also be reconstructed.

Reacting to these major announcements, premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said the purchase of the cranes by Transnet and reconstruction of the rail network linking the four major cities in the province such as Durban, KwaDukuza, Pietermaritzburg and Port Shepstone would provide a significant economic boost for the province.

Ntuli said this major infrastructure investment will create jobs for the province and improve the lives of the people.

“The province is on the right track. Our economy is growing and we are the only province that registered an economic growth in the third quarter and business confidence is growing,” said Ntuli.

The government will hold an investment conference next week in Durban.