“From a rail perspective we
understand what you think
of us. It’s a perception we
have to deal with and it’s a
service delivery we have to
improve.”
That was the candid
message from Wiseman
Madinane, Transnet Freight
Rail executive manager in
the intermodal business unit,
when he addressed customers
at a business breakfast
hosted by Safmarine in
Johannesburg recently.
“Transnet is on a journey
and we can’t do it without the
private sector,” he said.
Madinane believes that
the road-rail strategy is often
misunderstood.
“It’s not about moving
cargo from road to rail – it’s
about redefining the supply
chain and ensuring that we
all play in a space that is
cost-effective and efficient.
“We have to reduce the
cost of doing business and
Transnet is key to that
process, as is partnership
with our stakeholders,” said
Madinane, who joined the
company six months ago
from the private sector.
“Transnet is encouraging
people from the private
sector to join them with fresh
ideas and to blend those
with the experience in the
organisation,” he added.
“It is planning a lot of
investment both in people
and infrastructure, and the
container business is one of
six strategic business units
that Transnet has identified.
“Between 2008 and last
year we achieved 32%
growth in this business unit.
This year we’re sitting at a
20% increase in container
volumes and our budget is
over 35%.”
This has been achieved,
he said, without any
infrastructure investment
– and our infrastructure is
under severe challenge at
these volumes.
“The volume of road
traffic between Johannesburg
and Durban is, however,
clearly not sustainable,” said
Madinane. “But as TFR we
need to develop a service that
is reliable.”
He concedes that from
Kings Rest to City Deep,
TFR is not delivering to
expectation.
“We have therefore invited
clients like Safmarine to tell
us their problems in getting
cargo to City Deep.
“Based on that
information, the organisation
has reviewed the issues.
“We are targeting 22
hours’ transit time on Natcor,
but that’s not all that’s
involved in getting a box to
City Deep. It’s got to do with
a range of issues like the
dwell time at Kings Rest and
the dwell time at the yard.
All these key performance
areas have been agreed
with our customers and this
information is reviewed on
an ongoing basis and shared
with them.
“It’s an initiative that
encourages public private
partnership.”
TFR is looking at key
performance areas – like
pilferage and how TFR
gets the information to the
customer when a wagon has
been declared unfit and what
happens to the cargo on those
wagons.
Missing containers, says
Madinane, has a lot to do
with discipline. “The system
tells you where to park your
container, and if you don’t
follow those instructions to
the letter, the container is
lost.”
Additional problems have
arisen due to upgrades at
City Deep where a lot of
money is being invested.
“We are working on all the
lines and have 50% capacity
on each. This means we
can handle three rather than
six trains a day, which is
impacting on our operations.
“We are in phase 2, going
into phase 3 of our upgrade.”
Recognising that City
Deep will not be able to
handle the expected growth,
a lot of investment is also
going into Kascon.
“We are slabbing that and
reclaiming some of the land
to create more capacity.”
Clearly there will continue
to be disruptions during
the upgrades, but with the
support of its customers,
TFR is determined to
get it right and earn its
rightful share of Natcor
business – for the good of
the organisation and for the
country at large.
CAPTION
Wiseman Madinane … ‘It’s about
redefining the supply chain.’
