Ships divert from strike-bound Durban, but workers said to be returning

SHIPS are said to be diverting from Durban in the face of a dock strike at Pier 1, provoked by the introduction of new work practices by the state port operator Transnet.

But Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela also said workers were slowly returning to work.


Malcolm Sodalay, spokesman for the South African Association of Freight Forwarders said the situation would soon have a have a "major impact on the freight industry", adding that "there is also a risk that some ships will not be able to wait while it is resolved."


No concrete figure of affected ships has been released, but Transnet and the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) said the strike has led to "a temporary suspension of activities due to operational issues within the terminal".