The favourable wind of change blowing through Cape Town Container Terminal is set to continue, despite last week’s shock disclosure that business unit executive, Moshe Motlohi, is calling it a day after only three months in the vitally important portfolio. “It is true I have requested an assignment in Durban and this has fortunately been granted, the reason personal, related to my son’s ill health.” Motlohi, who has four children, told FTW. “His condition requires constant monitoring and supervision by my wife and myself and though absolutely happy in Cape Town and enjoying the challenges, I had no choice but to request to be with my family.” Commenting on Motlohi’s departure, TPT divisional executive container manager Siya Mhlaluke said: “When we By Alan Peat The national strike at Transnet is now diarised for May 10 – with the 50 000 union members due to down tools at the start of the first shift on that Monday. The strike has been called by the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) and the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu). This is supposed to bring Transnet Freight Rail (TFR); Transnet Rail Engineering; Transnet Port Terminals (TPT); Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA); Transnet Pipelines; Transnet Capital Projects and the corporate head office to a grinding halt. The two unions have been in negotiations for an annual wage increase and related conditions since March this year, according to Jane Barrett, policy and research officer of Satawu. Conciliation failed to resolve the dispute, she added, and industrial action is the next step permitted in terms of the Labour Relations Act. “The central issue is the basic wage,” said Barrett. “Management is offering 8%, while our demand is 15%.” Issues that are fuelling the dispute are the huge salaries and incentive bonuses paid to top managers. Of the total bonuses paid last year, 51% of the amount paid out went to 4 500 managers and 49% was shared between 49 000 bargaining unit workers. Another bone of contention is the fact that Transnet’s downscaling from 200 000 to 50 000 employees over time has put additional pressures on workers but has not yielded fairer remuneration and there have been no notch increases for five years in Transnet Freight Rail after the company withdrew from its 25th percentile agreement. “Transnet’s workers feel cheated,” said Barrett. “Never before have they been so united and resolute.” While apologising to the public, Barrett added: “We want to put on record that going on strike is not an easy decision to make. The absence of a decent wage offer has forced the unions into this position.” Transnet strike set for May 10 sent him to Cape Town I was confident he was going to make an impact but he will leave for his successor the foundations he has put in place.” Motlohi reported for work on Monday (May 3) as business unit executive at Durban’s Pier 1, succeeding Michelle Phillips, who is driving container sector business development. He will however still be responsible for Cape Town Container and MPT terminals until a successor is appointed. Shortly after moving to Cape Town, Motlohi and his wife were involved in a head-on collision in Gauteng while returning to Cape Town from a family funeral.
