- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Durban car terminal eyes recovery from strikes
- Date: 30th September 2010
- Summary: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (RECENT) (REUTERS) SUN RISES OVER DURBAN HARBOUR VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE TO DURBAN CAR TERMINAL SUN RISES OVER CAR TERMINAL NEW VEHICLES PARKED IN CAR TERMINAL SILHOUETTE OF SHIP SHIP WITH VEHICLES PARKED ALONGSIDE VARIOUS OF CAR TERMINAL CREW CHECKING NEW VEHICLES VARIOUS OF VEHICLES DRIVING IN TERMINAL PARKING LOT VARIOUS OF CAR TERMINAL CREW MEMBER GUIDING NEW VEHICLES BEING DRIVEN INTO SHIP VARIOUS OF NEW VEHICLES READY TO BE DRIVEN INTO SHIP BONGANI ZOZO, TERMINAL OPERATIONS MANAGER TALKING TO CREW (SOUNDBITE) (English) BONGANI ZOZO, TERMINAL OPERATIONS MANAGER SAYING "During the automotive strike, we were so much affected, more on export because South Africa was on strike and there was less export cars coming but we were not that affected on import units." VARIOUS VEHICLES WAITING TO BE DRIVEN INTO SHIP VARIOUS OF VEHICLES DESTINED FOR LUANDA ANGOLA BEING CHECKED BY CREW (SOUNDBITE) (English) BONGANI ZOZO, TERMINAL OPERATIONS MANAGER SAYING "This terminal is unique in the sense that all the cars that are for over border and to Africa as well are coming from this terminal in so much that we have added our stack areas that is why we are so unique in accommodating 13,000 bays in this terminal." VARIOUS OF CAR TERMINAL PARKING LOT VARIOUS OF CARS PARKED
- Embargoed: 15th October 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA93KYTSJ8W71521JW6NHCV82B7
- Story Text: As production in South Africa's motor industry slowly returns to normal after weeks of wage strikes, the Durban car terminal says it has maintained its role as a vital link for exports and imports around the world.
The need for the first dedicated car terminal came after South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994 and the signing of the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) that sealed the country's acceptance into world trade.
Nicknamed 'Durban Ro-Ro', the terminal is the largest in Africa with the capacity of a 13,000 parking base.
The terminal's operations manager, Bongani Zozo, who's been working at the site for over 30 years, says there was a slight decline in exports during the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) strike that cost the country's economy millions of dollars.
"During the automotive strike, we were so much affected, more on export because South Africa was on strike and there was less export cars coming but we were not that affected on import units," said Zozo.
The two weeks nationwide motor industry strike which ended recently halted production of car parts and threatened South Africa exports and its international investment credibility.
Car parts manufacturers have been unable to meet orders meant for export. BMW South Africa also suffered in the export volumes loosing billions of rands during the strike.
An earlier car industry strike cost the country nearly 7 billion rand (approx 1 billion U.S. dollars) and industry analysts say the recent NUMSA strike could have had similar repercussions.
The terminal is run by the Transnet Ports Authority and operates 24 hours a day, through out the year. The terminal also accommodates larger vessels and transships once a month that serve as an export link to the rest of Africa.
Situated in one of South Africa's fastest growing cities, the Durban car terminal has grown rapidly over the years with vehicle import and exports soaring from as little as 100 units a month to a record 45,000 motor units in the month of August 2010, both in imports and exports.
In 2009 the terminal handled 350,000 motor units a year and the volumes are expected to grow further.
"This terminal is unique in the sense that all the cars that are for over border and to Africa as well are coming from this terminal in so much that we have added our stack areas that is why we are so unique in accommodating 13,000 bays in this terminal," said Zozo.
With the extension of the government's Motor Industry Development Plan (MIDP) the terminal is anticipating further significant growth in the coming years. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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