Transnet has implemented force majeure after the derailment of a train carrying coal on its Northern Corridor last Tuesday morning.
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) announced in a statement on Friday that it had implemented force majeure on the Northern Corridor after the “violent extortion efforts” of the Ulundi Business Forum had “significantly disrupted and delayed” the work of its recovery team at the scene of the derailment. The train was derailed outside Ulundi where it was travelling on its way to deliver coal to Richards Bay port for export.
“This comes after the business forum was invited to provide a list of all equipment and plant machinery that they are able to deploy to site as well as costings. Industry has contracted the Ulundi Business Forum for equipment to assist in the derailment recovery and the forum now insists on direct contracts with Transnet over and above what they have with industry,” TFR said.
“Transnet rejected this demand and the Forum resorted to violence which included assault, blocking access roads and the discharging of a firearm.”
TFR said its own security, the police and the public order policing unit had responded to the scene on Friday.
“Transnet condemns these acts and will be laying charges of violence, tampering with essential infrastructure and extortion. In an endeavour to minimise the impact of the derailment, TFR will divert, in the interim, some critical flows like chemicals, via the mainline between Durban and Gauteng,” TFR said.
It managed to continue with the recovery work by Friday night after lengthy engagements with the forum, supported by the police.
“Once the rolling stock has been cleared on the line, TFR will be in a better position to assess the damage on the line and determine when normal train operations can resume,” TFR said.
The rail utility is investigating the cause of the incident and suspects sabotage as it said it had received threats from the surrounding community, demanding business opportunities.
Since July 2021 Transnet has declared force majeure six times for various divisions of its business due to a cyberattack, riots, a fire, floods, a strike and the derailment.
