September 2022

Dear Stakeholder

I am happy to talk with you, important stakeholders. In this issue of the newsletter, you’ll find details about current events that took place in September.

Coming from the Africa Transport Evolution Forum and Expo, it is another flood-like situation, landslides, and human casualties marked this the past month. We are also worried about the possible slowdown rather downturn of the economy worldwide, especially in South Africa. Whether the economic downturn is true or not, one thing is for certain. It’s true that the market is in a bad mood. What would you thus term the current situation? happy times? A bad time? or challenging times?

The Transport evolution came at a time when our country is in noise over the issue pertaining to the trucking and the rail industry. The issues facing these logistic sectors need to be resolved for the benefit of our societies. The forms that make up the logistic sector are made to operate in sync complementing each other. The cargo that the trucks can’t transport is supposed to be moved with other modes of transport. We cannot find ourselves in a situation where the lives of our people and the infrastructure are being compromised for whatever unknown motives.

Back to the good part! The Women in Transport Awards Ceremony is one that celebrates and recognizes the women trailblazers in the transport sector. Congratulations to all the amazing nominees and winners on the night. These women are achieving career success, shattering glass ceilings, and opening doors for other women within the Transport sector.

We would also like to congratulate Mr. Prasheen Maharaj, former EThekwini Maritime Cluster Board member, for being appointed as the new president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce. The cluster (EMC) has always had a good relationship with the Durban Chamber of Commerce. Sharing similar goals and vision that aspire to elevate the eThekwini economy and its entirety.  In Mr. Maharaj’s words “Going back to our African roots, it is perhaps opportune that we begin to explore the concept and possibilities of the collaborative economy or sometimes called the sharing economy. We cannot continue to condone an environment where we have islands of prosperity in a sea of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.”

Before I conclude, I would like to invite every one of you to join us in celebrating the IMO World Maritime Day Parallel event to be staged between 12 – 14 October 2022 in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. This event is a significant occasion in the context of our maritime calendar. South Africa as a Member State of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), we the maritime stakeholders participate in the annual World Maritime Event.

We aim to cover all significant industry events in our newsletters, including all additional EMC projects that have been launched over the preceding month. We hope you will like reading this issue and find it fascinating.

Your feedback on any of our stories would be highly appreciated.

Let the harmony and colours of spring shine in your life!

Zenzile Gwamanda| Managing Director |EThekwini Maritime Cluster