I am deeply honoured to have been appointed as the CEO of Grindrod Limited. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of Directors for placing their trust in me to lead this remarkable organisation into its next chapter.
As I begin my tenure, I am proud of what our Group has accomplished recently. This past year has showcased the strength of our strategy, the resilience of our team, and the confidence our partners place in us.
We celebrated several significant milestones, each reinforcing Grindrod's growing role in connecting Africa to global trade.
The MPDC concession was extended to 2058.
Notably, we acquired the remaining 35% stake in Grindrod's Matola terminal.
We also executed substantial divestments of non-core assets, raising R500 million. This included the sale of the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast property portfolio and our exit from the 50% shareholding in the Cockett Group.
A significant achievement was the signing of an agreement between Transnet National Port Authority and Grindrod Eyamakhosi for the development and operation of a new container terminal in Richards Bay. This partnership represents a significant step forward in unlocking capacity, supporting economic growth, and creating a more competitive port system for South Africa.
We also celebrated the opening of Phase 01 of the UCD Salt River container depot, a modern, rail-linked facility located just 3 km from the port of Cape Town.
Furthermore, we are preparing to seize the opportunities arising from third-party rail access in South Africa. With our locomotive fleet and deep operational expertise, we are well-positioned to play a meaningful role in the industry.
To our customers, partners, and stakeholders, thank you for your ongoing support. I will build on the solid foundation already established and continue to prioritise collaboration, operational excellence, innovation, and robust partnerships.
To the Grindrod team, I am proud of the difference you make every day, consistently driving operational excellence throughout the organisation and innovating to ensure long-term sustainability.
Together, we will drive our PURPOSE: to make a positive difference in Africa's trade with the world, touching the lives of the communities in which we operate. We will strengthen Grindrod's role as a trusted logistics partner and continue to deliver cost-effective, efficient, and integrated logistics solutions that contribute meaningfully to Africa's trade with the world.