A consortium led by Sekunjalo Investments has been awarded a five-year contract worth an estimated R1bn by the department of agriculture, forestry and fsheries.
The deal is expected to accelerate broad-based participation in Cape Town’s maritime industry.
Under the deal the consortium, which includes Sekunjalo Industrial Holdings (a subsidiary of Sekunjalo) and ship-building company KND, will conduct technical maintenance, infrastructure and personnel support to eight state-owned research and patrol vessels including the Algoa , the Ellen Khuzwayo and the Sarah Baartman for a five-year period.
Sekunjalo CEO Khalid Abdulla said the contract is a significant business deal for Sekunjalo and will create value for the group’s current business operations.
In addition, Sekunjalo’s chairperson Dr Iqbal Surve said: “The deal will accelerate much-needed enterprise development and skills transfer in technical areas of the maritime industry, where barriers to entry have previously been high. Our goal is to provide as many job opportunities through this deal as possible.”
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tina Joemat-Pettersson said the contract is the first of its kind awarded to a black-owned company; black-owned firms have traditionally shied away from technical areas of South Africa’s maritime sector.
“I am confident that Sekunjalo Industrial Holdings has the requisite skills and capabilities to fulfil this contract, based on its fleet management experience and its experience in managing maintenance projects on international vessels.”
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World Maritime News Staff, November 25, 2011