Transnet strike costing SA berry exporters R134m a week
The Transnet strike has also crippled berry exports.
A group representing local producers says, since the start of the industrial action, it's lost over R100 million a week.
Justin Mudge, who's with BerriesZA, says more than 80 containers of berries destined for European markets are still stuck at the ports or cold storage sites.
Transnet workers who belong to labour union Untu are returning to work on Tuesday after they accepted a multi-year wage deal.
READ: Untu members accept Transnet wage offer
Satawu says the strike will go on for its members.
Mudge says even if normal operations resume, the backlog in the berry value chain will take weeks to clear.
"The industry is losing more that R134 million a week and more than 30 000 jobs are at stake. These are vital livelihoods for rural women in particular, who make up 90% of the harvest workforce.
"In the long term, South Africa needs to rethink the Transnet monopoly on ports if we are going to remain a globally competitive exporting nation."
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