Warning over wasted food at clogged-up ports
There's a warning that a large amount of food at the country's ports will be wasted if Transnet doesn't clear the backlog quickly enough.
The state-owned logistics company's IT system was hacked into just over a week ago, bringing operations to a halt.
It happened on the back of the unrest, which had also caused disruptions to the economy.
On Wednesday, the Public Enterprises Department said Transnet had managed to fully restore operations and would bring back remaining systems in a staggered manner.
The South African Meat Processors Association says it fears space for storing import and export containers will run out at the Durban port.
It says there might not also be enough plug points to keep temperature controlled containers with food cool.
CEO Peter Gordon says the processed meat sector relies heavily on imported ingredients for production.
“As we empty an inbound container, a reefer container, of let’s say chicken or meat, that empty container gets rerouted to be filled with fruit for export. So there is that, let’s call it a virtuous circle of containers. One coming in with products, they’re emptied, and that same container is used to export fruit. And if we don’t empty the inbound containers fast enough, you don’t have enough empty containers to export.
“Supply chain is a very, very fine-tuned process, it has a multiple knock-on effect. You break one link and the chain falls down. “
