Transnet has announced it will act quickly to advance Part B of the review process for the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 dispute, pledging to proceed “without undue delay.”
On Friday, the state-owned company (SOC) issued a statement confirming it would soon petition the court for a preferential hearing date for the review.
The statement follows a Durban High Court ruling this week in which APM Terminals (APMT), a subsidiary of Maersk, successfully obtained an interim interdict against Transnet’s award of the privatization contract for DCT Pier 2 to International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).
In its statement, Transnet clarified that the court’s ruling was an interim measure and does not overturn the contract award to ICTSI.
Transnet elaborated that APMT’s initial application sought an urgent order (Part A) to halt Transnet from finalizing the contract with ICTSI.
The forthcoming Part B will address APMT’s broader request to nullify Transnet’s decision to select ICTSI as the preferred bidder.
“Transnet will respect the interim interdict as part of its commitment to public trust and transparent governance,” the statement said. “This commitment reflects Transnet’s dedication to the highest standards of accountability and good governance.”
Explaining its rationale for awarding a 25-year contract, with a 49% stake in DCT Pier 2 to ICTSI, Transnet cited its corporate strategy to involve private sector partners to enhance efficiency, foster competition, and stimulate economic growth.
According to the company, this partnership aligns with the South African government’s structural reform agenda and is a cornerstone of Transnet’s 18-month Recovery Plan.
“The board and executives remain fully committed to this strategic objective,” Transnet stated, emphasizing that its partnership at DCT Pier 2 complements other initiatives across the organization aimed at strengthening South Africa’s logistics sector.
