The Department of Transport wants to secure a Cabinet decision on separating the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) from Transnet before the end of the year, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy told Parliament on September 22.
Speaking during a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Creecy said the department is working towards a decision that will allow it to begin implementing the proposed separation.
“We would like to be in a position to begin effecting that decision by the end of this calendar year,” she said.
Creecy provided a potential timetable for the next decision on the TNPA’s structure although she cautioned that Cabinet approval will not mean the restructuring is complete.
She said the TNPA currently generates revenue used by the wider Transnet group. She argued that separating the authority could allow more of its revenue to be reinvested in the port system.
“We would like to see a situation where this revenue can be reinvested in the port system so that we can move towards a situation where we can have world-class port infrastructure.”
The TNPA is responsible for developing and maintaining South Africa’s port infrastructure. The proposed change could affect how port revenue is managed and how infrastructure investment is prioritised although the details depend on the structure approved by government.
Creecy made the remarks during a briefing on the TNPA’s first quarter performance in the 2026/27 financial year. Committee members questioned infrastructure investment, operational efficiency and the authority’s ability to implement its capital programme.
TNPA Chief Executive Mohammed Abdool told the committee that the authority is focused on improving its capital expenditure performance. According to the TNPA Board, procurement reforms are being implemented to address delays that affected project delivery.
Creecy said the department is also consulting organised labour on the movement of staff as part of the broader institutional changes involving the ports and rail regulatory framework.
A Cabinet decision would be a step towards separation. Further work is required before a new structure takes effect.
