Reuters reports that logistics and freight companies said on Wednesday that Durban port had suffered major disruption after days of unrest, and operations have also been badly affected at the Richards Bay port and on a national freight rail line.

The violence erupted last week in KwaZulu-Natal after the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, but rapidly escalated into looting and destruction in Gauteng. State logistics group Transnet said in a statement that service levels at the Durban and Richards Bay ports were impacted "as the entire supply chain is closed," including roads into and out of the ports. The SA Association of Freight Forwarders told Reuters that port health services at Durban had been closed, effectively preventing vessels from berthing because Covid-19 testing could not be carried out. "This situation is exacerbated by launch crews also not being available," it advised. Juan Enslin of the Leschaco Group said his logistics firm had had to leave several containers in Durban port for safety reasons. "We therefore will fall way behind in our delivery schedules. Cargo that has been on the road was also diverted," he reported. On the impact on freight rail, Transnet said force majeure had been declared on the Natcor rail line that connects Durban to Gauteng. Transnet also said it was deploying resources to avert commercial fuel operations being affected, after being served with a force majeure notice by the Sapref oil refinery.

• Read the original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News

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