# Transnet

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South African rail, port and pipeline company

For the German trade union, see [TRANSNET Gewerkschaft](/source/TRANSNET_Gewerkschaft). For the stock car racing team, see [Transnet Racing](/source/Transnet_Racing).

Transnet SOC Ltd. Type State-owned enterprise Industry Rail transport Port management Logistics Pipeline management Predecessor SAR&H Key people P. Derby, Chairperson of the board[1] Products Freight Logistics Revenue R 82.7 billion (2024/25 FY) Operating income R 12.3 billion (2024/25 FY) Total assets R 366.9 billion (2024/25 FY) Total equity R 134.4 billion (2024/25 FY) Number of employees 45,450 (2024/25 FY) Divisions Transnet Engineering Transnet Freight Rail Transnet National Ports Authority Transnet Pipelines Transnet Port Terminals Transnet Property Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager Footnotes Source: Transnet[2]

**Transnet [SOC](/source/State-owned_company) [Ltd](/source/Limited_company)** is a large [South African](/source/South_Africa) rail, port and pipeline company, headquartered in the [Carlton Centre](/source/Carlton_Centre) in [Johannesburg](/source/Johannesburg).[3] It was formed as a limited company on 1 April 1990. A majority of the company's [stock](/source/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](/source/South_African_Railways_and_Harbours_Administration) and other existing operations and products.

As of August 2024, the company has an accumulated debt of R121 billion.[4]

## Divisions

The primary divisions of Transnet include:

- [Transnet National Ports Authority](/source/Transnet_National_Ports_Authority) (NPA) and [Transnet Port Terminals](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transnet_Port_Terminals&action=edit&redlink=1) (formerly SAPO) own and operate the country's main seaports

- [Transnet Pipelines](/source/Transnet_Pipelines) - principal operator of South Africa's fuel [pipelines](/source/Pipeline_transport)

- [Transnet Freight Rail](/source/Transnet_Freight_Rail) railway operator - freight service

- [Transnet Engineering](/source/Transnet_Engineering) - [rolling stock](/source/Rolling_stock) manufacturing and maintenance

- Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager

- Transnet Property

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](/source/Export-oriented_industrialization) strategy. Most Southern African import and export commodities are handled through South Africa's six largest ports: [Richards Bay](/source/Port_of_Richards_Bay), [Durban](/source/Port_of_Durban), [Saldanha](/source/Saldanha%2C_Western_Cape), [Cape Town](/source/Port_of_Cape_Town), [Port Elizabeth](/source/Port_of_Port_Elizabeth) and [East London](/source/East_London%2C_Eastern_Cape). In October 2009 the new deepwater [Port of Ngqura](/source/Port_of_Ngqura) was commissioned just 7 km outside of Port Elizabeth. Port Terminals not only handle cargo but also perform logistics management for 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](/source/Transnet_Freight_Rail)** formerly known as Spoornet, is the biggest division of Transnet. It is a 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.

## History

### Railway development

Railways were first developed in the area surrounding Cape Town and later in Durban around the 1840s. The first line opened in Durban on 27 June 1860. The initial network was created to serve the agricultural production area between Cape Town and Wellington. The news that there were gold deposits in the Transvaal Republic moved the Cape Colony Government (supported by British Government) to link Kimberley as soon as possible by rail to Cape Town as part of the colonial dream.[5]

In the Union of South Africa (31 May 1910 – 31 May 1961), consisting of the four earlier colonies: the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal; all railways in South Africa finally became unified as a state-owned railway system in 1910 when the Central South African Railways, the Cape Government Railways and the Natal Government Railways were all fused by an Act of Parliament (South Africa Act 1909). Thus was born the South African Railways and Harbours (SAR&H).[6]

### South African Transport Services

On 31 May 1961 the Union 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 started, 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 became known as South African Transport Services (SATS). At the same time, the enterprise was restructured into units and divisions with strong emphasis placed on localized management. [7] 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.[8] On 1 April 1990, after 80 years of government and parliamentary control, SATS received company status.

### New Company

On 1 April 1990, 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.[9]

Transnet is currently made up of:

- [Transnet Freight Rail](/source/Transnet_Freight_Rail) (formerly Spoornet)

- Transnet Engineering (formerly Transwerk)

- Transnet National Ports Authority (formerly the NPA)

- Transnet Port Terminals (formerly SAPO)

- Transnet Pipelines (formerly Petronet)

## Recent news

In December 2013, Transnet appointed nine [black-owned](/source/Broad-Based_Black_Economic_Empowerment) companies to supply it with fuel over the following five years in a $1.5 billion deal aimed at promoting the [South African](/source/South_Africa) government's [black economic empowerment](/source/Black_economic_empowerment) drive.

On 17 March 2014, Transnet's CEO, Brian Molefe, announced contracts of R50 billion with four international manufacturing companies to build 1,064 locomotives (465 diesel and 599 electric). GE would supply 233 diesel locomotives, CNR 232 diesel locomotives, [Bombardier Transportation](/source/Bombardier_Transportation) 240 electric locomotives and CSR 359 electric locomotives. Of the total of 1,064 locomotives, 70 would be imported complete and the rest would be built locally by Transnet Engineering in Pretoria and Durban.

The alternators of the first two diesel locomotives delivered to Transnet by China's state-owned CRRC Corporation, posed serious problems soon after they arrived in South Africa the previous year, rendering the locomotives unable to operate. Transnet is now refusing to accept a further 18 locomotives that are waiting to be shipped to South Africa.[10]

Transnet subsequently terminated its contracts with Brian Molefe and his successor Siyabonga Gama. A forensic report states Molefe misled the Transnet board into approving costs. Molefe and three others increased the locomotive deal by at least R16 billion to R54 billion. By late 2018, both were under criminal investigation.[11] The organisation fired Gama in October 2018 on the basis that it required a trustworthy CEO.[12] In June 2020 it was reported in the [Daily Maverick](/source/Daily_Maverick) that three senior executives (Nonkululeko Sishi, Lenny Moodley and Shulami Qalinge) implicated in facilitating [state capture](/source/Zondo_Commission) had been dismissed.[13] On 27 May 2022, Gama, along with four other executives, was arrested by the [National Prosecuting Authority](/source/National_Prosecuting_Authority) on charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering, and granted bail ahead of another court hearing in July 2022.[14][15] In September 2024 President Cyril Ramaphosa the SIU to investigate allegations of maladministration related to Siyabonga Gama's reinstatement as CEO of Transnet Freight Rail in February 2011.[16][17]

Main article: [2021 Transnet Cyberattack](/source/2021_Transnet_Cyberattack)

On 22 July 2021, Transnet experienced "an act of [cyberattack](/source/Cyberattack), security intrusion and [sabotage](/source/Sabotage)," that caused it to declare [force majeure](/source/Force_majeure) at several key [container terminals](/source/Container_terminals), including its [Durban](/source/Port_of_Durban), [Ngqura](/source/Port_of_Ngqura), [Port Elizabeth](/source/Port_Elizabeth) and [Cape Town harbors](/source/Port_of_Cape_Town). The Durban port handles 60% of South African container traffic. As of 26 July most computer systems had been restored, but Transnet's investigation into the attack's severity continued.[18][19]

## Class action lawsuit by its pensioners

A group of 66,000 pensioners have instituted a civil claim to recover about US$6.5 billion they claim Transnet plundered from their pension funds. The group has accused Transnet of stripping the Transnet Pension Fund and Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund of its assets and mismanaging them to such an extent that the funds were unable to meet their obligations to members. They have also accused Transnet of attempting to dissolve the pension fund. Increases to pensions have been limited to 2% for close to the past decade, reducing most of the pensioners to poverty. [20]

## Chief executive officers (CEO) through the years

Term started Term ended Surname, first name 1910 1928 Hoy, William 1928 1933 More, John 1933 1941 Watermeyer, Theodore 1941 1945 Hoffe, Charles 1945 1950 Clarke, William 1950 1952 Heckroodt, William 1952 1961 Du Plessis, Danie 1961 1968 Hugo, Johannes 1968 1970 Kruger, Johannes 1970 1983 Loubser, Jacobus 1983 1990 Grove, E.L. 1990 1996 Moolman, Anton 1996 2000 Macozuma, Saki 2000 2004 Mkwanazi, Mafika 2004 2009 Ramos, Maria 2011 2016 Molefe, Brian 2016 2018 Gama, Siyabonga (acting 2018) 2019 Morwe, Tau (acting 2019) 2020 Mahomedy, Mohammed 2020 2023 Derby, Portia 2024 present Phillips, Michelle

## See also

- [South African Airways](/source/South_African_Airways)

- [Metrorail](/source/Metrorail_(South_Africa))

- [Gautrain](/source/Gautrain)

- [Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa](/source/Passenger_Rail_Agency_of_South_Africa)

- [North West Cultural Calabash](/source/North_West_Cultural_Calabash)

- [2021 Transnet Cyberattack](/source/2021_Transnet_Cyberattack)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["NEW TRANSNET BOARD"](http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2010/12/new-transnet-board/). Railways Africa. Retrieved 19 December 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["2025 Annual Report"](https://www.transnet.net/getFile.ashx?id=6092).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "[Contact Us](http://www.transnet.co.za/Contact/ContactUs.aspx) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130330144032/http://www.transnet.co.za/Contact/ContactUs.aspx) 30 March 2013 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)." Transnet. Retrieved on 15 April 2013. "Transnet SOC Ltd Head Office Physical Address Carlton Centre 150 Commissioner Street Johannesburg 2001"

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Fall from grace – From R5-billion profit to R6-billion debt"](https://topauto.co.za/features/112040/fall-from-grace-from-r5-billion-profit-to-r6-billion-debt/). *Top Auto*. Retrieved 7 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Railway Transportation in South Africa"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091229083130/http://globalview.uic.asso.fr/cd-rom3_sans/transnet_background.pdf) (PDF). 30 June 2008. Archived from [the original](http://globalview.uic.asso.fr/cd-rom3_sans/transnet_background.pdf) (PDF) on 29 December 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Transnet Careers](https://primeseta.co.za/durban-students-can-now-apply-for-transnet-wil-programme-2025/) in South Africa

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["SAR & Transnet History"](http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/grela/transnet.html). *mysite.mweb.co.za*. Retrieved 1 September 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Welcome to the official South African government online site! | South African Government"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120328123731/http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=93296). *info.gov.za*. Archived from [the original](http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=93296) on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Strategic Intent"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170507232456/http://www.transnet.net/AboutUs/Affiliates.aspx). Archived from [the original](http://www.transnet.net/AboutUs/Affiliates.aspx) on 7 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Brian Molefe's Transnet legacy exposed: R8bn in dud trains bought from China?"](https://www.biznews.com/sa-investing/2017/01/23/brian-molefe-transnet-china). *BizNews.com*. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Former Transnet CEOs Siyabonga Gama and Brian Molefe should be charged, report finds"](https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-11-16-criminal-probe-is-necessary-against-former-transnet-ceos-siyabonga-gama-and-brian-molefe-report-finds/). *BusinessLIVE*. Retrieved 1 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Modise, Kgomotso. ["Siyabonga Gama loses court bid to overturn Transnet axing"](https://ewn.co.za/2018/11/22/siyabonga-gama-loses-court-bid-to-overturn-transnet-axing). *ewn.co.za*. Retrieved 1 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Mahlaka, Ray (11 June 2020). ["BUSINESS MAVERICK: Transnet fires executives over wrongdoing during State Capture years"](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-06-11-transnet-fires-executives-over-wrongdoing-during-state-capture-years/). *Daily Maverick*. Retrieved 14 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Luvhengo, Phathu; Agency Staff (27 May 2022). ["Siyabonga Gama one of five former Transnet executives arrested"](https://www.businesslive.co.za/bloomberg/news/2022-05-27-siyabonga-gama-one-of-five-former-transnet-executives-arrested/). *BusinessLIVE*. Retrieved 28 May 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Luvhengo, Phathu (27 May 2022). ["Ex-Transnet executives, 'Gupta-linked associates' granted bail after arrest for alleged corruption"](https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-05-27-former-transnet-boss-siyabonga-gama-appears-in-court/). *TimesLIVE*. Retrieved 28 May 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Truen, Sarah (2009). ["Regulation of State Owned Enterprises - Transnet Freight Rail Case Study"](https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1370428). *SSRN Electronic Journal*. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2139/ssrn.1370428](https://doi.org/10.2139%2Fssrn.1370428). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1556-5068](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1556-5068).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["SIU authorised to probe reinstatement of former Transnet CEO Gama"](https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2024-09-13-siu-authorised-to-probe-reinstatement-of-former-transnet-ceo-gama/). *www.timeslive.co.za*. Retrieved 18 August 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Njini, Felix; Naidoo, Prinesha (27 July 2021). ["South Africa Port Operator Declares Force Majeure Over Cyber Attack"](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-27/s-africa-port-operator-declares-force-majeure-over-cyber-attack-krln4ku6?sref=ctSjKj2N). *[Bloomberg News](/source/Bloomberg_News)*. Retrieved 27 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Sheed, Sam (27 July 2021). ["South Africa port operations halted and workers reportedly put on leave after major cyberattack"](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/27/transnet-halts-port-operations-in-south-africa-after-major-cyberattack.html). *[CNBC](/source/CNBC)*. Retrieved 27 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Victory for Transnet pensioners | IOL Business Report"](http://www.iol.co.za/business-report/victory-for-transnet-pensioners-2024724). Retrieved 1 September 2017.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Transnet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transnet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transnet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.