| Type | State-owned enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport Port management Logistics Pipeline management |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Johannesburg |
| Key people | Mafika Mkwanazi, Chairman[1] |
| Products | Freight Logistics |
| Revenue | ~ R38 bn (2010) |
| Employees | 49 078 |
| Website | http://www.transnet.net/ |
Transnet SOC Ltd is a large South African rail, port and pipeline company, headquartered in the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg.[2] It was formed as a limited company on April 1, 1990. A majority of the company's stock is owned by the Department of Public Enterprises, or DPE, of the South African government. The company was formed by restructuring into business units the operations of South African Railways and Harbours and other existing operations and products.
The business units of Transnet include:
The National Ports Authority provides port infrastructure and marine services at the eight commercial seaports in South Africa. Transnet port terminals was established in 2000, when Transnet’s then single port division, Portnet, was divided into operations and landlord businesses namely, SAPO (Transnet port terminals) and National Port Authority (TNPA). Since its setting up, Transnet port terminals has played a part in supporting the South African government’s export-led growth strategy. Most Southern African import and export commodities are handled through South Africa’s six largest ports: Richards Bay, Durban, Saldanha, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London. The new deepwater port of Ngqura is currently under development just 7 kilometers outside of Port Elizabeth. Port Terminals not only handles these cargoes but implements logistics management solutions for its container, bulk, break-bulk (multi-purpose) and car terminal operations.
Transnet Pipelines, formerly known as Petronet, the guardian of the country’s pipeline assets and is currently servicing two key industries (fuel and gas) by transporting petroleum and gas products over changeable distances.
Transnet Freight Rail is the biggest division of Transnet. It is an outstanding heavy haul freight rail company that specializes in the transportation of freight. It is the biggest outside United States and excluding India that is not a company but a Government Department.
Transnet Rail Engineering is dedicated to in-service maintenance, repair, upgrade, conversion and manufacture of freight wagons, mainline and suburban coaches, diesel and electric locomotives as well as wheels, rotating machines, rolling stock equipment, castings auxiliary equipment and services.
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The government started with Development of Railway in area surrounding Cape Town and Durban in late 1840’s. The first line opened in Durban on 27 June 1850. The initial network was created to serve agricultural production area between Cape Town and Wellington. The stories that there were gold deposits in the Transvaal Republic were confirmed and the Cape Colony Government (supported by British Government) wanted to link Kimberley as soon as possible by rail to Cape Town as part of the colonial dream. [3]
The Union of South Africa was recognized on 31 May 1910, consisting of the four earlier colonies: the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange River and Transvaal. As an autonomous state of the British Empire, the Union continued under the official rule of the British crown, represented in South Africa by a Governor-General. All railways in South Africa finally became a unified state-owned railway system in 1916 when the Central South African Railways, the Cape Government Railways and the Natal Government Railways were all fused by an Act of Parliament. Thus was born the South African Railways and Harbours (SAR&H). [4]
In 1961 the Union of South Africa ceased being a part of the British Empire when it became the Republic of South Africa. By 1981 government decided that the SAR&H should restructure itself along business lines in order to evolve from a state-owned corporation towards privatization. Later, when commercial aviation developed, the South African Airways also became a part of this huge land, sea and air transport system. Integral to the process was a change in the name and image of the organization, which would reflect its new mission as a state business enterprise. In April 1981, the country’s railway, harbour, road transport, aviation and pipeline operations become known as South African Transport Services (SATS). At the same time, the enterprise was restructured into units and divisions with strong emphasis on localized management. [5] The "Legal Succession to the South African Transport Services Act, 1989" transformed the South African Transport Services from a government department into a public company. [6] On April 1 1990, after 80 years of government and parliamentary control, SATS received company status. A new company representing a vast transportation network was born, and appropriately named TRANSNET. Transnet Limited is a public company of which the South African Government is the sole shareholder. Both working and controlling South Africa’s major transport infrastructures, Transnet is also liable for ensuring that the country’s transport industries work according to world-class principles and that they form an integral part of the overall economy. [7]
Transnet is currently made up of: