Port Commercial Land Lease – East London

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), a division of Transnet SOC Ltd, has issued a Request for Proposal to lease premises in the Port of East London. The site comprises Land Asset Numbers EBX2466L and EBX2467L, located on portions of Erf 19711 and Erf 19720 in the West Bank precinct. The property extends to approximately 6,770 m² and is offered on an as-is (voetstoots) basis for a lease of up to ten years. The proposed use is automotive and port-related commercial activity. The premises are currently occupied and used as warehousing for ship repair. Buildings may be demolished by the preferred bidder only with prior written approval from TNPA and the Heritage Council of South Africa. The slipway is excluded from the leasable area, and the electrical substation must remain accessible to TNPA.

Bidders must meet several mandatory requirements. These include a valid Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, a tax compliance PIN, a signed Standard Bidding Document (SBD 1), a priced rental offer in South African Rand inclusive of VAT, and a certificate of acquaintance with the RFP documents. Foreign bidders must incorporate a South African company before a lease can be concluded. Bids are evaluated in stages: administrative and substantive responsiveness, then a functionality test with a minimum threshold of 66.67 out of 100 points. Functionality is assessed on previous experience (company profile and reference letters no older than five years), a bank rating no older than three months, alignment with the Port Development Framework Plan, a market analysis, value to port operations, a capital expenditure and work breakdown plan, a maintenance plan, and cash flow projections signed off by a finance professional. Qualifying bids are then scored on rental price (80 or 90 points depending on contract value) and specific goals (20 or 10 points, covering B-BBEE level and ownership by black youth, black women, or people with disabilities). Under the lease, the lessee must maintain at least B-BBEE Level 4, submit an approved Business Plan and Environmental Plan, and bear all costs of refurbishment, compliance, and asbestos management, if present. TNPA may terminate the lease on three months' written notice without cause.

Key dates are: issue date 19 October 2026; non-compulsory briefing via Microsoft Teams on 30 October 2026 at 12:00; clarification questions closing 20 November 2026; and bid closing 27 November 2026. Bids remain valid for 120 business days. Bidders should read the Integrity Pact, Non-Disclosure Agreement, draft Lease Agreement, and General Bid Conditions, and should inspect the site before submitting. Site access is arranged through elsproperty@transnet.net. The opportunity offers a long-term, port-located base for automotive or maritime-linked commercial operations, with the potential to add value to East London port activity.