Transnet has suspended operations at several of its ports due to strong winds and high waves impacting parts of the country, further delaying efforts to clear existing backlogs.
The country’s coastal regions, particularly the Western Cape, have been hit by disruptive rains and violent winds, causing damaging waves since Sunday.
State-owned Transnet, which has been struggling with port backlogs due to under-investment in equipment and maintenance, stated that operations at four of its seven ports—Cape Town, Saldanha, Port Elizabeth, and Ngqura—have been affected by the severe weather.
“Strong winds reaching 35-50 knots and high sea swells exceeding 3.5 meters have led to shipping movements being suspended at some ports for safety reasons,” Transnet said in a statement.
Transnet reported no major incidents as of Tuesday.
On Tuesday, 9 July, the South African Weather Service issued a warning about damaging waves around Durban on the east coast, the country’s largest port and one of the busiest in Africa.
