Transnet begins recovery plan

Chris Wells, acting CEO of Transnet, said the transport utility had begun to deploy its recovery plan headed by senior teams to ensure that the backlog was cleared in as short a time as possible.

Wells said the company had reorganised its command centres to deal with the new phase of the strike, which was now supported by Satawu members, and to sustain a speedy recovery.

Satawu is demanding a 13% wage hike.

But Wells maintained that the company's 11% offer "is fair and generous and at the limits of affordability and reasonableness".

"Whilst it will not be possible to return to normality immediately, we are striving to do so as swiftly as possible and I appeal to our customers for patience and their continuing co-operation as we do so," Wells said.

Transnet said it had been able to move all the critical flows, including the World Cup cargo and jet fuel.

"In addition, the strike has not resulted in any fuel shortages in South Africa," it said.

Transnet also said it was "pleased" with the turnout as more than 65% of its employees reported to work on Tuesday morning, following the termination of the strike by the United Transport and Allied Unions (Utatu), which signed the 11% wage deal on Friday, 21 May.

"In some areas of our operation, the attendance rate is as high as 100%. Most of our operations are steadily returning to normality. We have also seen increasing numbers of members of Satawu taking up their posts in our various operations," Transnet said.