Posted on 02 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a loan of up to $US400 million to help Transnet fund some of the rail projects in its five-year, R93.4 billion capital investment programme. The group plans to spend a record R22.8 billion in 2010-11, most of it on rail-related infrastructure. The AfDB loan adds to some R4 [...] [...more]
Posted on 02 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
On 29 June, it was announced that Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) CEO Siyabonga Gama, suspended since September 2009, was to be immediately dismissed. This course was recommended by Mark Antrobus SC, who chaired the disciplinary inquiry. Gama was found to have awarded an R18m contract to a firm linked to communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda. This [...] [...more]
Posted on 17 May 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
On 12 May, Transnet group executive: human resources Pradeep Maharaj addressed the following open letter to members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and the United Transport and Allied Trade Unions (Utatu): “At our meeting on Tuesday (11 May 2010) when your unions rejected the settlement proposal of Transnet, we indicated [...] [...more]
Posted on 14 December 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
GE Transportation has been selected as the preferred bidder to supply 100 diesel locomotives to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR). An initial tender for 212 locomotives was issued on 18 September 2006. In August 2007, Electromotive Diesel (EMD) of the USA was named as preferred bidder in a contract said to be worth R6 billion. A [...] [...more]
Posted on 02 December 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
(from Transnet website, November 2009) The railway network is classified into The core network (about 12,800km) Branch lines (about 7,300km) Transnet’s branch lines strategy provides for concessioning to private operators. Approval has been granted by the Minister of Public Enterprises in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999. Transnet is currently doing feasibility studies [...] [...more]
Posted on 02 December 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
(from Transnet website, November 2009) Classification Rationale / Criteria Basic & extended core: 12,801km (63.8% of the total network distance of 20,079km). Includes 74km of closed line Basic core Port- Rail Corridor Port network Cross-border interconnect Extended core High volume feeder Network operational flexibility Future network expansion provision Characterised by: 1. Freight focus 2. Blockloads [...] [...more]
Posted on 30 November 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
Transnet’s October auction offers included: Two Class 5E1 locos (E1101/E1102) at Ladysmith, KZN (shown as built 1966 and totally refurbished in 2004, starting price R1,800,000 each). These have featured in at least two previous auctions, Peter Bagshawe points out: March – starting price R2,000,000 then, and June 2009 – and were obviously unsold. 37 scrap [...] [...more]
Posted on 21 November 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
On 17 November, acting Transnet CEO Chris Wells announced that Transnet Port Terminals CEO Tau Morwe is to fill the post of CEO at Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) temporarily. The post has been vacant since 1 September, when the parastatal suspended Siyabonga Gama from duty. He faces internal disciplinary action over allegations of irregularities relating [...] [...more]
Posted on 25 September 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
Appointing a successor to former Transnet CEO Maria Ramos is the responsibility of Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan. Neither the president of South Africa nor others should be seen to intervene. This is the substance of a statement by President Zuma on 17 September, when he deplored speculation over the issue in the press. Minister [...] [...more]
Posted on 21 September 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
According to Moipone Malefane, writing in the Sunday Times, “Transnet authorised payments totalling R483 million more than it should have to contractors over the past four years, as part of its R80 billion capital expenditure programme. The payments were made during former chief executive Maria Ramos’ term of office, and have been repeatedly questioned by [...] [...more]
Posted on 14 September 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
In an official statement dated 2 September, Transnet spokesman John Dudlu said: “Mr Siyabonga Gama, the chief executive at Transnet Freight Rail, has been suspended, pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary process. Mr Gama has been requested to attend a disciplinary hearing relating to an alleged serious breach of governance requirements in respect of [...] [...more]
Posted on 08 September 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
Historic Rail Association of Southern Africa (HRASA) chairman Chris Janisch reports – “Since receiving our general mandate to act as the recognised liaison and negotiating body of heritage railways in South Africa, HRASA has slowly but surely started to function as was originally intended. Within the organisation, a proper structure has been set up involving [...] [...more]
