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MEDIA RELEASE
To: All Media
Attention: News Editors
For Immediate Release
DATE: 13 March 2024
Ports Regulator SA, B-BBEE Commission sign MOU to strengthen partnership on economic transformation in the Ports Sector
On Wednesday, 13 March 2024, Ports Regulator of South Africa’s (PRSA) Chief Executive
Officer, Ms. Mukondeleli Johanna Mulaudzi and the Commissioner of the Broad-Based Black
Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission, Mr. Tshediso Matona, signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims at promoting economic transformation in
the Ports Sector.
It is intended that the partnership between the PRSA and the B-BBEE Commission will help
address the slow pace of transformation. The PRSA report on “Implementation of Broad-
Based Black Economic Empowerment in South African indicates that Black Ownership in
port terminal operations hovers below 20%, for leases 18%, and 12% for services and
facilities. The Ownership by Black Women in the sector is worryingly below 15%.
On the other hand, the B-BBEE Commission’s National Trends and Status report on B-
BBEE for the year 2022, shows that while the Integrated Transport sector managed reached
58% of Black Ownership by JSE listed entities in 2022, and 25% for Black Women, the Ports
sub-sector still lags behind. This demonstrates that an overarching challenge faced by the
PRSA and the B-BBEE Commission is the issue of enforcement and accountability for non-
compliance with the B-BBEE Act.
In this context, the B-BBEE Commission has a leading role to play in strengthening of
accountability and enforcement, based on the powers and functions assigned to it in the B-
BBEE Act, which will support the transformation efforts and initiatives of the PRSA.
It is anticipated that the collaboration between the B-BBEE Commission and the PRSA will
enhance monitoring of transformation activities within the Ports Sector to ensure that black
operators and port users benefit in future. The MoU between both partners provides for
exchanges of information, strategies, expertise, and research related to B-BBEE and
transformation. In addition, the MoU states that both partners may from time to time engage
in awareness and advocacy programmes concerning B-BBEE.
In this regard, it should be possible for example, where the PRSA identifies sub-sectors of the Ports where compliance and enforcement should be strengthened to collaborate with the B-BBEE Commission on research and appropriate interventions required, based on the respective mandates of the two entities. During the signing ceremony of the MoU, the CEO of the PRSA stated that the collaboration signals an important journey that will ensure enforcement on B-BBEE initiatives is achieved through the partnership. She highlighted the need for interventions to ensure that small and medium enterprises graduate to become large enterprises in the various port sector activities and operations.
The B-BBEE Commissioner, Mr Tshediso Matona said: “There is no doubt that the Ports Sector has strategic importance for the economy and as such, there is no reason why black people cannot have equitable participation in the economy”.
The signing of the MoU was welcomed by the stakeholders in the maritime sector, notably, Maritime Business Chamber, Industry Development South African Maritime Safety Authority, B-BBEE Charter Council and eThekwinin Maritime Cluster.
ENDS
| PRSA
The Ports Regulator (the Regulator) was established in terms of Section 29 of the National Ports Act, No. 12 of 2005 (the Ports Act). The Ports Regulator is a Schedule 3A Public Entity of the Department of Transport, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, No.1 of 1999, as amended. The Regulator is a key component of the ports regulatory architecture envisaged in the National Commercial Ports Policy. The Regulator’s key function is economic regulation of the ports system in South Africa, in line with the strategic objectives of the State. In accordance with this mandate, PRSA performs certain functions and activities in the industry that relate mainly to regulation of pricing and other aspects of economic regulation, promotion of equity of access to ports facilities and services, monitoring the industry’s compliance with the regulatory framework and also hearing any complaints and appeals lodged with it.P
B-BBEE Commission The B-BBEE Commission was established in terms of section 13B of the B-BBEE Act 53 of 2003 as amended by Act No 46 of 2013 with powers effective from 6 June 2016. The B-BBEE Commission’s mandate, amongst others, is to supervise and encourage adherence to the B-BBEE Act in the interest of the public, conduct reactive and proactive investigations on fronting and other violations and promote good governance and accountability by creating an effective and efficient environment for the promotion and implementation of the objectives of broad-based black economic empowerment. |
Issued by the Ports Regulator SA and B-BBEE Commission
Ports Regulator SA
For queries, please feel free to contact:
Ports Regulator SA
For queries, please feel free to contact:
Ms. Siziphiwe Shoba
Designation: Manager: Legal, Regulatory Compliance and Tribunal
Telephone: 031 355 0710
E-mail: siziphiwes@portsregulator.org
Website: www.portsregulator.org
For queries, please feel free to contact:
Mr. Mofihli Teleki
Senior Manager: Stakeholder Relations and Communications
Telephone: +27 12 394 1535
Mobile: +27 82 092 0079
E-mail: MTeleki@beecommission.gov.za
Website: www.bbbeecommission.co.za
