Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has partially uplifted the force majeure it declared due to the impact of port and rail workers’ countrywide strike.
Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said in a statement that the parastatal had informed its customers that the force majeure declared in the automotive, bulk and multipurpose terminals was being lifted “with immediate effect”. However, for container terminals it would remain in effect until the end of October.
Transnet declared force majeure on October 6 after employees embarked on industrial action, impacting the company’s ability to deliver on contractual obligations. United National Transport Union (Untu) workers returned to work on Monday, October 17, after signing a wage agreement with Transnet, while members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) returned to work on October 19.
Shezi said the parastatal had been working to alleviate the backlogs across the country’s ports.
“TPT is implementing recovery plans to stabilise operational performance and efficiencies across its terminals following the industrial action by employees which ended earlier this week.
“The extent of the backlogs in the container terminals, and the resultant impact to operations, mean that the force majeure declared for the container terminals will remain in place, with TPT anticipating that it will be ready to uplift it by 31 October 2022,” Shezi said.
She added that TPT’s full workforce had reported for duty with effect from October 20, and the backlogs in the container terminals were being cleared as part of the recovery plans that were now under way.
“Transnet signed a three-year wage agreement with majority union Untu on October 17. Satawu, which is also a recognised union at Transnet, called off its strike action on 19 October 2022. Transnet would like to thank its customers and industry broadly for their support and understanding during this period,” she said.
