Transnet substantially lifts force majeure after two weeks

Force majeure was declared due to industrial action by South African unions after they rejected Transnet’s 3% pay rise for workers. Inflation in South Africa is running around 7.6%.

The company has since signed a three-year pay deal with United National Transport Union (UNTU), which represented most of the striking workers on October 17, with fellow union South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (SATAWU) calling off its strike action on October 19.

One area where force majeure will remain in place is container operations, due to extensive backlogs and their impact on operations. Transnet expects force majeure to lift for container operations by the end of October.

“TPT’s full workforce reported for duty with effect from 20 October 2022, and the backlogs in the container terminals are being cleared as part of the recovery plans underway,” said Transnet.