By Alec Hogg
The Port of Gauteng is clearly sign-posted just past Vosloorus on the left-hand side of the N3 Highway from Johannesburg to Durban. The project reflects the foresight and persistence of property developer and logistics specialist Francois Nortje, an occasional commentator on logistics matters for BizNewsTV.
The ambitious project was launched four years ago. But no warehouses or rail sidings have been constructed. The reason, I thought, was a running battle with a potentially alternative inland port called Tambo Springs a few kilometres down the road.
But Nortje says it’s because of the collapse of the rail route during Covid. He says: “Nobody has court cases against us – we can start if we want to. We do not have any environmental or engineering service issues such as supply roads or sewers.” That’s in start contrast to Tambo Springs. But the competitor has the wholehearted support of ANC officialdom right down to its use of taxpayer funds for a Stalingrad-style, unwinnable court battle against Nortje.
Port of Gauteng’s developer has long been suspicious of skullduggery. Tambo Springs is on environmentally sensitive land initially set aside by Ekurhuleni as a green lung. Yesterday Nortje received confirmation via the latest episode of News24’s ‘Mashatile Unmasked’, a series exposing the deputy president’s malfeasance.
News24 investigative journalists proved a corrupt link between Gauteng ANC kingpin Mashatile and large property development company Valumax. In our interview yesterday, Nortje explained the connection between Valumax and Tambo Springs part-owner Markus Jooste’s nominees – former Steinhoff colleagues Danie vd Merwe and Doep du Plessis.
Nortje’s conclusion: Jooste and his cohorts are not in jail because they have bought protection from a certain powerful member of the Gauteng ANC. Tambo Springs, he says, is the smoking gun. Rantings of a crazy man or the only rational perspective? You be the judge. For your convenience, the recording is embedded above.
Sterkte
Alec
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