DURBAN PORT CRISIS: MEDICAL DRUGS SUPPLY FEARS ALLAYED

MANZINI - Some government suppliers who specialise in medical drugs have allayed fears that the Durban Port crisis in South Africa might affect the supply of medication in the country.

At the Durban Port, which is the main port that is used by South Africa and companies from Eswatini to import and export goods from and to overseas countries, there is a backlog of over 70 000 containers as the port had not been operational since towards the end of 2023. This is due to equipment failure.  According to some of the government suppliers, they said most of the medical drugs they supplied government with came to South Africa by air and they then transported it by road into the Kingdom of Eswatini, hence they would not feel the effects of the Durban port shutdown.

One of the suppliers who clarified the matter was SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff, who said the crisis in Durban Port did not affect them. He said this was because in most instances, the medical drugs came to South Africa by flight. “Whoever says we are affected by the crisis at the Durban Port is not telling the truth,” Ashraff said.

It is also worth noting that according to South Africa’s Regulation 3(1) of regulation relating to Medical Devices and IN VITRO Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVD) December 9, 2016, no person shall import medical devices or IVD, including medical devices or IVDs imported in terms of Section 15c OF THE Act, read together with Regulation 5, into the Republic of South Africa except through the following ports of entry; Cape Town International Airport or harbour, Port Elizabeth International Airport or harbour, King Shaka International Airport or harbour and OR Tambo International Airport or harbour.

Aware

On the other hand, Business Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nathi Dlamini said they were keenly aware of the crisis at Durban Port and were monitoring the fallout of the congestion at the port. He said when they first raised the alarm on this issue; they had already expeditiously engaged government and other stakeholders in the country and South Africa in their attempt at finding a solution.

He said as they had stated before, the delays in the supply chain would lead to disastrous consequences for their landlocked economy, which depended on the free and efficient movement of goods. Over and above, he said the textile and apparel sector, whose plight was published yesterday, there were other sectors, some of which were still awaiting delivery of festive holiday consignments, even though the season had long passed. “As Business Eswatini, we continue to engage stakeholders including the National Trade Facilitation Committee to provide relief to the business community,” Dlamini said.

When asked what kind of relief they were seeking from the National Trade Facilitation Committee, he said the committee had the channels to negotiate with their South African counterparts. He said the committee could also advise on alternate routes that exporters and importers could use if the congestion continued unabated.

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