WATCH: Truck congestion persists as city takes on Transnet

The City of uMhlathuze is unrelenting in its quest to compel the State-owned entity, Transnet to take decisive action to address ongoing truck congestion on the region’s roads.

The municipality says it is now seeking an urgent meeting with the national executive of the entity to find amicable solutions to the problem.

This as hundreds of side-tipper trucks continue to queue along the John Ross highway and N2.

“The city’s quest is a simple one: the use of locomotives to process commodities or a reduced number of heavy vehicles on the road,” said uMhlathuze communications manager Bongani Gina.

Gina said the municipality has had numerous meetings with the local Transnet executives, ‘which have borne no fruit’, and now seeks an audience with national executives.

While a litigation process is being instituted by the city to compel Transnet to take action, court action has been deemed a last resort.

Meanwhile, Transnet is holding an emergency meeting today (Tuesday) to find solutions to the ongoing problem of road congestion in Richards Bay.

“Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has implemented a truck booking system as a mechanism to create order, however, the solution does not include trucks destined for back-of-port facilities.

“As a result, even when trucks have been booked, the tempo at which the trucks arrive at port gates sometimes far exceeds the pace at which trucks can be processed at the permit offices, as well as at the terminal.

“Short- and long-term solutions are required, and Transnet looks forward to developing these solutions in partnership with other stakeholders, at its meeting on Tuesday,” said the entity in a statement.

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