Exploring the social impacts of the expansion of the port of Durban.

Abstract

Current research demonstrates that spatial developments are mostly the cause of social, environmental, and economic problems. While businesses expand, the quality of life in most communities deteriorates due to the social impacts that are associated with the expansion of industries. Governments are increasingly prioritizing and commissioning infrastructure of megaprojects such as ports, which are often supported by economic impact studies. The port of Durban is currently experiencing capacity constraints as a result of the congestion problems facing the harbour. The port developers (Transnet) proposed to expand the port as a solution to the congestion impediments. The old Durban airport relocated to La Mercy, presenting an opportunity to Transnet to purchase the old airport site at South Durban Basin (SDB) to commence the expansion of the port of Durban. The expansion plans include building a new port, construction of a link road from the Bluff through Clairwood, Austerville, and Merebank to connect with the national roads network. This research aims to explore the social impacts of the expansion of the port of Durban for the communities in the South Durban Basin. Underpinned by the Social impact theory and the Psychological impact theory, this study seeks to explore the extent to which the expansion of the Port of Durban will impact on SDB communities as well as determining whether the port expansion is justified for port development. The study used both primary and secondary data. The results of the research indicate that the magnitude of the social impacts and enormity of it all are such that the change in the lives of people living in SDB will be for the worst, given the current problems existing in the area. The expansion plans have been viewed to cause more “havoc” in the area. Moreover, the expansion of the port is not justified for port development because expanding the port may not necessarily mean that they will be to the degree required to remain competitive.