Durban harbour is key to South Africa’s grain trade. In the 2017/18 marketing year, South Africa exported 2.3 million tonnes of maize (white and yellow). About 74% of this went to markets through Durban harbour (nothing through other harbours), with the rest exported by road and rail to the continent.

At Durban Harbour no containers will be loaded today and all roads in the greater Durban area are very quiet in response to threats of violence against truck drivers.

At the ports of Durban and Cape Town, Transnet has announced it would relax staffing constraints, so it is expected that the pace of loading will pick up within the coming weeks. An additional vessel has been added to the berthing line-up at those two harbours.

As production in the citrus industry edge ups towards the 200 million 15kg equivalent carton mark, the Citrus Growers’ Association has identified integration of diverse information platforms within the sector as a means of enhancing the industry’s export opportunities.

Following my recent meeting with the Citrus Growers Association (CGA), I wish to register my concern about the current state of service delivery at the Port of Cape Town and its potential negative impact on the export of agricultural products.