B-BBEE players slam Creecy

IMPORTS: TROUBLE AHEAD FOR MINISTER'S FUEL STORAGE PLAN

- Ciaran Ryan

Broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) players in the fuel sector have challenged Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy's decision to renew 25-year leases with global oil companies at the Transnet Island View Precinct in Durban.

Several B-BBEE players say they have been unfairly excluded from bidding.

The precinct handles about 70% of South Africa's fuel imports and it was widely expected that when the current leases expired they would be put out to tender.

Instead, Creecy invoked broad ministerial powers under Section 79 of the National Ports Authority Act, which allows her to bypass the normal licensing procedures in the national interest.

"The directive goes against South Africa's economic transformation," said Zakhele Madela, chair of the Association of Economic Intervention Forum, speaking recently to the portfolio committees on trade, industry and competition, and transport.

"It is an unfair exclusion and we want a review of the process to give 25% to black traders."

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