Operations to clear the backlog at ports across the country are under way following the settlement reached between workers and Transnet.
The 12-day wage strike ended on Monday after the majority union, the United National Transport Union (Untu), agreed to a 6% wage increase for the current year and the third year and a 5.5% increase for the second year.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) maintained that its members remained on strike as no wage agreement had been reached with Transnet.
However, Transnet said between 70% and 80% of workers were back at work and more were expected to return over the next two days.
Untu executive committee member Carestone Damons confirmed that “all workers” were back at work, including some members of Satawu.
“The picketing areas in the ports of Gqeberha and Ngqurha are empty,” he said.
Other unions in the sector, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the Revolutionary Transport Union of South Africa (Retusa), also indicated that they had called off the strike and asked that their members be given the rest of the week to return to work.
Transnet said engagements with customers and industry were ongoing with joint planning to clear backlogs created as a result of the industrial action.
Numerous industries that are dependent on the ports have highlighted the large financial implications of the strike. This includes the berry industry which stated that the strike had cost the sector more than R134 million a week after 80 containers destined for European sat at empty ports.
Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said the focus at the ports was on clearing the backlog of vessels at anchorage and alongside the quay, including bulk, break bulk and containers.
“Evacuation of imports out of the port is under way, in order to create fluidity within the terminals, with the immediate focus being on perishable and time-sensitive cargo. All eight commercial ports remain accessible,” said Shezi.
She added that pipelines were transporting fuel to the inland market to ensure security of supply.
On the rail side, Shezi said inspections and assessments of the network and the rolling stock were being carried out to ensure that trains were safe before services could resume fully.