Attention broadcasters: English soundbite from MPP Cayla Murray attached.
The DA in the Western Cape notes the corruption allegations against Pepi Silinga, the CEO of Transnet National Ports Authority, and welcomes the investigation into these allegations.
Transnet has faced continuous problems at its port operations, including significant delays at the Port of Cape Town over the fruit export season.
Silinga will step back from his position while the investigation against him is completed.
While it is good to see the beginnings of accountability emerge at Transnet, it remains an open question whether this will lead to tangible results and improvements at the SOE.
Transnet have been invited to appear before the Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism, to provide feedback on their plans to address inefficiency at the Port of Cape Town.
Their inputs, along with those from other key stakeholders in the agriculture, export logistics value chain, and freight industry, will be used to compile a report that the committee will submit to the Minister of Transport for consideration.
The DA will continue to take steps to get the Port up to speed, as it is currently the biggest handbrake on job-creation in the province. We cannot allow this mismanagement to continue unabated, and stand ready to assist in any way we can to make sure the Port of Cape Town becomes one of the most efficient in the world.