Durban - Trucking companies in KwaZulu-Natal said they were worried about the future of their businesses due to their trucks having restricted access to ports because of the ongoing Transnet strike.
The Road Freight Association said most Transnet terminals at the port had either come to a grinding halt or were operating at very low input.
Trucking companies yesterday said that due to limited operations they had been unable to access the ports to pick up containers.
Gavin Kelly, chief executive of the Road Freight Association, said some parts of the ports were working but the issue was the terminals.
“We have private terminals and Transnet terminals. The private terminals are operational but the Transnet terminals have either come to a grinding halt or are operating at a low input level because of the strike and that affects the trucking industry as this is not enough to get the cargo from the port or through the port.
“The issue we have here is that ships offload cargo at the port and it is the Transnet workers who move the cargo from the grounding place to where trucks can reach them. However, this is currently not happening due to the strike similar to the level 5 lockdown where only essential cargo was allowed to be moved.”
A representative of Positive Freight Solutions, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I have 35 trucks and I employ 65 staff. With the strike I can’t get a booking slot and I’m not making any money. I have employees and I don’t even know how I am going to pay them.”
Chris Moodley, director of freight company KZN Customs Clearing and Forwarding, said he felt that the trucking industry had been brushed aside by Transnet. “They have resorted to preferential treatment to the shipping lines only and have cut us off from the logistics chain. I feel again this is a perfect example of Transnet side-lining the private transporters in the pure interest of the shipping lines only.”
Reuters reported that Transnet Port Terminals said the strike had impacted waterside and landside operations at its Durban port, which handles 65% of the country’s container volumes.
“Please be advised that operations at Pier 1, Pier 2 and Durban RoRo Terminal have been impacted as a result of industrial action. Appointment slots have been suspended. Please do not dispatch trucks to the terminals until further notice.”
Both Transnet unions said they continued to meet with Transnet in wage negotiations and had also met with ministers Pravin Gordhan, Thokozile Didiza and Thulas Nxesi.
SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union head of communications, Amanda Tshemese, said they would continue with the wage negotiations and hoped for positive results.
In a joint statement, Gordhan, Minister of Public Enterprises; Nxesi, Minister of Employment and Labour; and Didiza, Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, said the government was extremely concerned about the negative impact on the economy, particularly, those sectors that were dependent on Transnet for their logistical services.
“We need to remind all that if we are able to, as soon as possible, resume exports of agricultural products (eg. citrus, grapes, berries), mineral resources (eg. coal, iron ore etc.) and other manufactured products, we will be contributing to sustaining hundreds of thousands of jobs across the economy."