By Johnathan Paoli
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has applauded Transnet Port Terminals (TPTs) for what she described as a “remarkable turnaround” in operational efficiency, after the entity posted its strongest performance in more than a decade.
Minister Creecy described the achievement as an important signal of recovery for South Africa’s ports, which have been under pressure due to years of inefficiency, congestion, and the diversion of shipments to competing hubs in the region.
“This improved performance gives us hope that trans-shipment volumes we lost during the 2023/24 year will return in due course to our ports, ensuring both job retention and future job creation for our maritime economy,” Creecy said.
Since June 2025, TPTs have consistently averaged more than 90,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per week, a sharp improvement from the same period last year, when volumes hovered around 65,000 TEUs per week.
This marks a year-on-year increase of 7.2% in container volumes by the end of August 2025.
In a milestone week ending 20 July 2025, TPTs handled 101,295 TEUs across its container terminals, the highest weekly figure in over a decade, and edging closer to its all-time record of 105,650 TEUs set during the 2014/15 financial year.
The resurgence of TPTs has been underpinned by four major interventions, beginning with significant investment in equipment.
This included the deployment of nine rubber-tyred gantry cranes at the Durban Container Terminal Pier 1, 20 new straddle carriers at Pier 2, and a new ship-to-shore crane at the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal.
Additionally, more than 200 new haulers and trailers have been distributed across container terminals to boost operational efficiency.
Equally critical has been the focus on proactive maintenance, ensuring fewer breakdowns and greater uptime for critical machinery.
Process improvements have streamlined container movements, while people management initiatives have supported workers through a fourth-shift system to improve work-life balance and performance.
A new incentive scheme has also been rolled out to reward productivity gains.
According to TPT Chief Executive Jabu Mdaki, collaboration has been the real game-changer.
“This milestone is a direct result of unprecedented collaboration between TPTs, labour partners, shipping lines, cargo owners, and logistics stakeholders. The synergy across these groups has enabled a seamless flow of operations, with vessels now berthing on arrival across all terminals, which is a significant achievement considering the backlog challenges faced in 2023,” Mdaki said.
The operational revival comes after years of criticism directed at Transnet for inefficiencies that hurt the competitiveness of South African ports.
Chronic equipment failures, delayed vessel berthing, and backlogs had previously forced shipping lines to bypass South African ports, diverting traffic to more reliable regional competitors.
The turnaround has not only restored confidence among shipping lines but has also reestablished predictability in cargo movement.
TPT has introduced a container performance dashboard that provides real-time visibility into terminal operations, a move welcomed by cargo owners and logistics companies who rely on accurate forecasts for planning.
South Africa’s maritime economy, or “oceans economy,” is regarded as a key sector for job creation, investment, and economic growth.
Improved port efficiency directly impacts the country’s trade balance, reducing delays and costs for importers and exporters alike.
Creecy emphasised that the gains made by TPTs were not just about numbers, but about safeguarding livelihoods and opening pathways for growth in industries linked to shipping and logistics.
“Every container that moves efficiently through our ports supports businesses, sustains jobs, and strengthens our position as a trading nation. This performance turnaround is a victory for our maritime economy,” she said.
While the recent results are promising, industry stakeholders caution that sustaining this momentum will require ongoing investment, strict adherence to maintenance schedules, and a continued focus on collaboration.
The department said it will continue monitoring performance closely while working with Transnet to ensure efficiency gains are entrenched.
Inside Politics