The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber says the "go-slow" strike action at the Port of Nqgura in Port Elizabeth is costing the local economy millions of rand every day, and it is doubtful that some companies will recover.
Chamber president, Andrew Muir said in a letter to Transnet chairman Popo Molefe that they were deeply concerned about the current impasse at the Port where exporting activities had literally ground to a halt.
The letter was copied to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel, Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane, and Transnet acting group CEO. Mohammed Mahomedy.
The Business Chamber says the automotive sector is losing an estimated R15 million worth of production per day due to downtime, while the citrus industry has also been badly affected as they have not been able to transport their perishable goods, putting their international reputation and market share at risk.
It says there are reliable estimates that the go-slow is costing the region’s citrus exporting industry between R50 and R100 million per week.
