Transnet – Non-essential goods can move out of the ports in South Africa

In its announcement of measures for the COVID-19 lockdown, Transnet, the parastatal responsible for the operations of the ports and terminals in South Africa finalised and announced a series of measures to ensure throughput of essential services in line with the Maritime Security Regulations and Directives..

As part of these directives, only essential cargoes were allowed to be moved as directed by the Government.. On the 2nd of April 2020, these regulations were amended to allow the movement of non-essential goods as well..

Transnet has accordingly revised its operational measures and issued communication relating to the movement of non-essential goods..

03 April 2020

Dear Valued Customer

TRANSNET COVID-19 CUSTOMER UPDATE: AMENDMENT OF COGTA REGULATIONS

Our previous communication to you on 29 March 2020 refers.

Following amendments to the Disaster Management Regulations by the Minister of
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on 02 April 2020, we wish to advise that
Transnet is still operating under lockdown conditions and specific protocols for restarting
operations are centrally processed and need to be strictly observed.

As you may be aware, in addition to the list of goods and services that were declared as
essential, there have been revisions and exemptions created by Government for certain
goods and services, which are critical to the health of the national economy and its
revilitisation post the crisis.

As a result thereof, it has now been formally declared that transportation (including
handling) of all cargo from ports of entry to their intended destination is no longer
prohibited.

This means that a number of operations at Transnet will be adjusted subject to
approval by various Government Departments. These include, the Departments of Mineral
Resources; Trade and Industry; Transport and our Shareholder, the Department of Public
Enterprises.

As a caring company, Transnet will carry out its mandate within the Regulations set out by
Government in order to minimise the spread of the COVID-19 virus and national imperative
to “flatten the curve”.

We therefore wish to inform you that Transnet will start moving non-essential goods
following the amendments of the regulations as stated above. The amendments amongst
others:

• permit the transportation of cargo from ports of entry to their intended destination,
  on condition that necessary precautions have been taken to sanitise and disinfect
  such cargo;
• permit essential workers to move between provinces and between metropolitan and
  district areas to travel to and from work.
• Require us to reassess our operations for purposes of rendering essential services as
  defined.
• lifts the restriction of cargo movement out of the port precinct in accordance with the
  amendment contained in Regulation 11B(b)(iii)(bb).
• transportation of cargo and goods as set out in Part A to neighbouring countries are
  still permitted in terms of the Regulations.

As previously communicated in addition to all the essential services previously communicated
our focus will be on:

• The integrated container logistics system mainly around the Port of Durban and the
  link to the economic hub in Gauteng – ensuring that the complex system remain
  efficient to enable the movement of priority and essential containerized goods; this
  includes the movement of non-essential cargo to City Deep, only for storage in order
  to decongest the Port of Durban,
• The heavy haul rail and ports export system from the Northern Cape to the Port of
  Saldanha; and
• Domestic and export Coal and other General Freight Business cargo through the Port
  of Richards Bay.

We wish to remind you that that all necessary measures to protect Transnet staff when
interfacing with customer’s operations should be undertaken. The regulations are attached
for ease of reference.

Please ensure all applications and evidence of approvals are submitted to the Transnet
Customer Nerve Center via email at transnet.cnc@transnet.net. Commodity managers and
key account executives normally dealing with each customer remains the primary point of
contact and channel of communication with all our customers.

Yours Sincerely,
__________________________
Gert de Beer
Customer Engagement Lead, Transnet COVID Command Centre
Date: 03 April 2020

 

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