South Africa transport unions call for Transnet’s Durban terminal privatisation to be cancelled

The United National Transport Union (UNTU) and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) have heavily criticised the decision by Transnet to privatise Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2, calling for the process to be terminated.

Last week, Transnet announced International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) as its equity partner to upgrade DCT Pier 2 with the overall aim to improve terminal capacity at the port.

In a joint statement, UNTU and SATAWU called Transnet’s actions a “direct attack on the working class” and claimed that DCT workers refused to engage with CEO Portia Derby on two occasions about privatisation.