Transform maritime sector, urges govt

"These targets should be reviewed regularly to ensure that there is a continuous increment in numbers of black people and women entering this business. We also want black people benefiting from the preferential procurement, enterprise development, and skills development within the sector," said KZN MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mike Mabuyakhulu.

Speaking at the Umyezane Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Conference and Business Awards in Durban on Monday, the MEC said maritime businesses were predominantly owned by foreign nationals.

The conference is aimed at looking at how government and industry can transform this sector which holds potential for economic activity and job creation.

In the maritime sector black people are still largely excluded from, ship ownership, ship operating, chartering, cargo surveyors, marine tally and port equipment.

South Africa may be a leading economy on the African continent with advanced transportation infrastructure, but is still not featuring amongst the 35 nations that enjoy the 95 percent monopoly of the world's merchant vessels that are often sighted moving in and out of its waters.

The provincial government is not deterred by the reported sluggish move toward transformation in this industry and wants to capitalise on its ideal geographical location.

"This doesn't dampen our resolve to continue attempting to unlock this rich economic sector featuring sub-sectors with potential to add value to economic transformation in the province and the country as a whole," said the MEC.

Professor Trevor Jones from the University of KwaZulu-Natal said South Africa was indeed a major sea-trade nation and KZN was the epicentre of the activities. The country's two most strategic ports found in KZN gives the province both a comparative and competitive advantage in terms of trade and commerce.

However, South Africa is still not a major player in the maritime sector. Jones said there were substantial employment opportunities in exporter shipping and related activities.

Mabuyakhulu said: "Our coastline, including our harbours, has been termed the 'goldmine of KwaZulu-Natal'... that is the reason the province regards the maritime industry as one of the critical instruments to bring about tangible socio-economic transformation in this country and the region and as well as the continent of Africa."

Meanwhile, KZN has introduced a number of initiatives and programmes to advance the implementation of B-BBEE and has become the first province that had gone through the process of B-BBEE verification.

"We have also adopted the firm position in terms of B-BBEE enforcement in the province. In December 2011, the provincial Cabinet has approved that 50 percent of the provincial budget on goods and services from 2007 to 2012 should be allocated for B-BBEE companies

"This means that from 2013 onwards 70 percent of the provincial budget on goods and services will be allocated to B-BBEE. All the companies doing business with government all their B-BBEE Verification certificates will now be kept in the provincial database system that is controlled by the provincial treasury," said Mabuyakhulu.