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IOL News
06-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Infrastructure is lifeline of GNU
President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy Paul Mashatile preside over the first Cabinet Lekgotla of the Government of National Unity. The GNU's legacy will largely be determined by its ability to translate infrastructure vision into tangible implementation, transforming South Africa's infrastructure from a constraint to a catalyst for inclusive growth., says the writer. As South Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU) charts its course despite challenges, the spotlight remains on delivery, and few areas are as urgent or promising as infrastructure. The stark reality is undeniable: despite years of investment and policy reform, much of South Africa's economic infrastructure continues to underperform. As President Cyril Ramaphosa candidly acknowledged in his State of the Nation address this year, 'In many cities and towns across the country, roads are not maintained, water and electricity supply is often disrupted, refuse is not collected and sewage runs in the streets.' These challenges are evident in three key sectors: Energy infrastructure Eskom has shown modest improvements but continues to grapple with significant operational challenges. A recent report by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research shows that load-shedding cost the South African economy approximately R2.9 trillion in 2023. While load-shedding has become less frequent, 'load reduction' continues to affect previously disadvantaged communities disproportionately, widening existing inequality gaps. Water infrastructure The Department of Water and Sanitation has reported alarming water losses in municipalities, averaging 41% due to theft, leaks and bad management. The breakdown in water infrastructure requires a fundamentally different approach to energy challenges, given that water is a finite resource in an already water-stressed country. The economic ramifications of water shortages are particularly severe, with some municipalities unable to support industrial expansion due to insufficient supply capacity. Logistics infrastructure Transnet's rail network remains critically underutilised. In its annual report for 2023/24, the parastatal acknowledges that it 'has faced several challenges that have threatened the sustainability of the organisation and compromised the efficiency of its operations'. The report also states that 'these challenges were further compounded by locomotive shortages and their unreliability due to wear and tear, critical equipment breakdowns, ongoing security incidents and infrastructure challenges.' Perhaps most concerning is South Africa's ports performance. The World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2023 placed Cape Town as the worst performer globally, while Durban – Africa's busiest container terminal – is ranked 398 out of 405 ports assessed.
Morocco World
01-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Hassan Abkari Dismissed as Tanger Med Port CEO Over Spanish Business
Doha – Hassan Abkari, the Director General of Tanger Med Port Authority (TMPA), has been dismissed from his position following revelations that he had established a private consultancy business in Spain's port sector while serving as the head of Morocco's strategic port. The decision to remove Abkari was made during an emergency TMPA board meeting held on February 27, according to authorized sources cited by several Moroccan news outlets. Idriss Aarabi, who previously served as operations director, has been appointed as the new Director General of TMPA. Abkari's dismissal comes days after Spanish media, notably first reported on February 20 that Abkari had founded 'New Port Consulting 2024' on January 13. According to the publication, the company was 'registered with a symbolic capital of one euro' and would offer 'technical consulting services in port service management.' The company's official registration in Valencia's Commercial Registry (Boletín Oficial del Registro Mercantil) confirms that Abkari is the sole partner and administrator of the firm. The company's registered address is located on Calle Garrigues, near Valencia's city hall in the downtown area. The Spanish newspaper detailed that the firm's business activities extend beyond port consulting to include 'the purchase, sale, administration, management, transformation and exploitation, excluding financial leasing, of all types of rural and urban properties.' This private business venture was deemed a conflict of interest with Abkari's official position at Tanger Med, which is a major competitor to Spanish ports like Algeciras and Valencia. For example, Danish shipping giant Maersk announced last January it would redirect its MECL service route from Spain's Port of Algeciras to Tanger Med, effective February 24, citing improved transit times that would reduce shipping by five days from India, Pakistan, and the Middle East to the US East Coast. noted that 'Tanger Med managed approximately 8.61 million TEU in 2023, positioning it 19th globally in terms of container volume' and ranked 'fourth in the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) of 2023.' Read also: Morocco's Port Growth Draws Spanish Freight Forwarders to North Africa The number increased significantly in 2024, with the port processing over 10.24 million TEUs, representing an 18.8% growth compared to the previous year. The report emphasized the strategic importance of Tanger Med, describing it as benefiting from 'a strategic location at the confluence of major global maritime routes connecting Europe, America and Africa, as well as transatlantic routes.' This was not Abkari's first connection to Valencia's port sector. In September 2024, he welcomed a delegation from the Valencian Business Association (AVE) to Tanger Med. The Spanish business group described the Moroccan port as 'a key infrastructure that has positioned Morocco as a fundamental player in international maritime trade.' During that visit, Abkari stressed the importance of Tanger Med as 'a global logistics hub, consolidating its role in maritime transport and the international supply chain.' Abkari had been with the Tanger Med group since 2006, holding various responsibilities since the project's launch. He also served as a board member of the Tangier Med Special Agency (TMSA). His successor, Idriss Aarabi, joined TMPA in 2007 as operations manager for the passenger and roll-on/roll-off port. A native of Tangier, Aarabi holds a Master's degree in commerce and management. He began his career in 2002 at Morocco's National Motorway Company (ADM) as a department head before joining Tanger Med. In 2019, he was appointed as operations director at TMPA. The board has tasked Aarabi with stabilizing the port's operations following this abrupt leadership change.
