The Port of Richards Bay has withdrawn its notice of contingency plans for the proposed national shutdown, which included the evacuation of all trucks from the port ahead of the political action.
Richards Bay Port Manager, Captain Dennis Mqadi, issued the 9 March circular to port stakeholders, and it was then widely shared on social media networks. The circular relates to the Economic Freedom Fighters’ proposed national shutdown to protest against ongoing loadshedding and to call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign.
Freight News sent the notice to Transnet National Ports Authority on Monday to request clarity but the parastatal said it had withdrawn the circular.
“Please be informed that that letter has since been retracted and a meeting with port users will be held tomorrow to discuss mitigation plans should there be challenges,” the TNPA spokesperson said.
Mqadi said in the circular, headed “TNPA Port of Richards Bay Contingency Planning – National Shutdown 20 March 2023” that it had been reported widely in the media that the shutdown would have an adverse impact on traffic “particularly trucks transporting dry bulk minerals to the Port of Richards Bay”.
He had suggested that, to ensure the safety of stakeholders and customers, it was recommended that transporters “are urged not to dispatch trucks to the Port of Richards Bay three days before the date of this event”.
“All long-distance trucks must have evacuated the port by 18:00 on 19 March, 2023,” Mqadi’s notice stipulated.
He also recommended in the circular that the dispatching of harbour-bound trucks to the port be suspended a day before the national shutdown and that all local trucks must have evacuated the port by 18:00 on 19 March, 2023.
“Stakeholders and customers are requested to take precautionary measures by activating their respective business continuity plans. TNPA Port of Richards Bay endeavours to ensure minimal disruptions to both its inland and waterside operations and will maintain communication with all stakeholders and customers whenever necessary during the course of planned national shutdown,” Mqadi said.
