Transnet has revealed details of its staff reduction plan at certain terminals as government’s Covid-19 lockdown regulations kick in.
Agri-bulk products – the likes of soya bean meal, fertiliser and woodchips – will continue to be handled but will be serviced on single berth operations at East-London, Richards Bay and Durban Agri terminals.
Break-bulk terminals will also function on single berth operation in order to handle essential breakbulk goods and containers. Break-bulk commodities will be handled at the Port of Cape Town, Richards Bay and Durban multi-purpose terminals.
Multi-purpose terminals at the ports of East London, Saldanha, Port Elizabeth and Maydon Wharf in Durban will be closed.
Transnet will close all automotive terminals.
All containers bringing in essential goods will be serviced using single berth facilities in some ports. The Durban Container Terminals (DCT) Pier 2 will operate only two berths on a reduced staff complement. Other container terminals - including the Nqgura, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth - will operate on a single berth.
Meanwhile, the Cape-Town Multi-Purpose Terminal will also handle containers on a single berth. All bulk terminals which handle mineral mining commodities will be scheduled as per demand from mining customers, subject to approval by the Department of Public Enterprises and Department of Mineral Resources.
Transnet employees working at these terminals (bulk terminals) will be requested to return to work based on the demand by the mining industry.
“All employees will adhere to the precautionary measures and continue practising strict levels of personal hygiene and ensure that full personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn at all times,” a spokesman said.
