Mayor, Transnet to meet over congestion at Richards Bay port
uMhlathuze mayor Xolani Ngwezi will meet with Transnet on Tuesday afternoon over the congestion of trucks going into the Port of Richards Bay on the city's roads.
"We have been holding meetings for a very long time where issues are raised. So I think it has come to a point where I am saying now I can't take anymore,” Ngwezi says, adding that the situation has significantly impacted the municipality and its finances.
He says the city depleted the R4 million in funds budgeted for traffic officer overtime in July due to the daily deployment of officers at the N2 entry point.
Transnet has since suspended processing trucks carrying coal into Richards Bay in an attempt to restore order.
Ngwezi says the city's lawyers have initiated legal action against the state-owned logistics company and the government departments responsible for ports and rail infrastructure.
"We have lost money. We can't continue to lose money and lose lives. The environmental factors around this matter affect our area, so I really can't."
Ngwezi hopes Transnet will present lasting solutions.
"All we need is compliance. I have quoted the National Ports Act, and it is clear what the port is supposed to do. The port must act in terms of what the law requires them to do so that we don't have the situation of what we are seeing here."
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