By Gavin du Venage Private hauliers have called on the Competition Board to act against Portnet after it ignored demands to explain its haulage monopoly at Durban.
Chairman of the Harbour Carriers division of the KwaZulu Natal Association of Freight Forwarders, Harbour Carriers and Warehousemen, Paul Rayner, said Portnet had ignored demands to explain its continued monopoly of carrier haulage within a 110 kilometre radius of the port.
The association had applied to the Competition Board in April asking for an investigation into the monopoly which Portnet has enjoyed since the advent of containerisation in the 70s.
Rayner said private hauliers were allowed in two years ago after a strike by Portnet workers.
The system worked so well it was allowed to continue, he said. However, pressure from Portnet unions had led to the exclusive rights area being enforced once again.
Rayner said union members objected to losing over To page 16 From page 1 time work to private hauliers. However, a number of private carriers were being forced out of business because of the loss of income.
Roughly 70% of cargo traffic is containerised, which leaves us to make the best of what is left, he said.
Portnet failed to respond to a Competition Board's deadline of the end of August. Rayner said the association wanted the board to step in and end the monopoly.
We believe it is unconstitutional for Portnet to dictate to importers and exporters and tell them who they must use to deliver their goods, he said.
Rayner added that the association could take legal action to break the monopoly if it did not receive a response soon.
