Transnet digs in heels over HQ move
DESPITE the ire of worker representative unions, Transnet remained adamant yesterday that it was all systems go for the plan to relocate its ports management division’s headquarters to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). The move is set to take effect from the end of the month.
Transnet head office status was jointly held by Durban and Joburg.
“The reconfiguration of eMendi building is progressing according to plan, with internal processes in progress,” Pepi Silinga, the chief executive of Transnet’s National Ports Authority (TNPA), said.
The authority was reacting to concern over the idea, which was expressed by the United National Transport Union (Untu) and echoed by fellow South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu).
In a statement, Untu said it had conducted an inspection of the eMendi building in the Eastern Cape, which is to be the new head office, and was shocked by its state of unreadiness to house employees.
The TNPA recently announced the plan to relocate to the 10 000m² building at the port of Ngqura, justifying it as making business sense in that the R255 million building was completed back in 2017, but had sat as a white elephant “for reasons unrelated to the interests of the Port Authority and/or its customers”.
“Transnet sees the consolidation of the TNPA in the Eastern Cape as an important contributor to the revival of that province’s economy, as it increases the ease of doing business,” Silinga has said.
Untu’s general secretary, Steve Harris, said eMendi lacked a floor plan and employees “would be packed like sardines”.
Slamming the move as being in bad faith, he said unions had not been consulted, but had learned of the plan in the media.
“This is a clear indication that the politicians are behind this relocation. It’s a political stunt to create an expectation of job creation for Gqeberha and its surrounding areas. It does not make business sense for Transnet to relocate the head office of TNPA to a remote port that currently does not even have public transport for its employees,” Harris said.
“A delegation of Untu made a visit to the eMendi Building and demanded that Transnet provide them with a floor plan so that they could see where union members would be seated.
“Nothing was in place. Transnet does not have a floor plan; they still need to build offices with dry walling; they do not know what the cost of the renovations will be and what the cost of the overall relocation will be,” said Harris. According to Harris, the building is too small to accommodate the initial figure of 400 affected employees. In addition, Harris said the move would financially strain affected employees and families.
“Transnet did not consider how this move would affect families. They will have to sell houses during a global pandemic (when) banks are no longer granting 100% bonds and the unemployment rate has reached a record high at 32.5%. Spouses will have to find jobs in Gqeberha and minor children will be uprooted from their schools at a time when the Department of Basic Education is struggling to fit in the academic year.”
Satawu entered the fray and said it was taking legal action against the state-owned entity.
“Transnet has violated our agreement with them, which stipulates that there should have been consultation on the matter,” said general secretary
Jack Mazibuko.
“Secondly, it is well known that the company does not have money. Transnet’s finances are in total disarray.
“How then, under this sorry state, can they afford the costs for proper relocation of employees, because it means the company will have to spend more money on the idea. The move is just irrational,” said Mazibuko.
In a statement, TNPA insisted that the move was being managed “with the sensitivity it deserves and the necessary employee support, in accordance with the Transnet Relocation Policy and Employee Assistance Programme”.
“It is for this reason that flexibility has been incorporated in the implementation of the relocation, which allows for the impacted employees to relocate between March 31 and August 31, 2021,” said Silinga.
“The reconfigured building plans allow for capacity of 372 employees, with suitable accommodation for approximately 100 Port of Ngqura Administration employees and 221 head office resources, while also making provision for possible future headcount growth.”
She said the TNPA was committed to ensuring fruitful consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
“For this reason, (Transnet) will pursue continuation of labour consultations that commenced in 2020.”