Operations Restored at SA Ports Following Cyber Attack

Tridge interviewed Basize Magagula, a Quality Assurance Inspector at the Joburg Market, to get insight on the impact of the port closures.

Container terminals at major ports, Durban, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town, were hampered due to the cyber attack, leading to backlogs and hampering exports. According to the Ministry of Public Enterprises, container terminals at the port of Durban are now fully functional while restoration operations are still underway in the Eastern Cape. Transnet operates major SA ports, including railway networks that transport commodities for export. The company stated that the force majeure will remain until there is significant progress in restoring its IT systems. According to the Ministry of Public Enterprises, customer data was uncompromised by the cyber attack.

While the port of Durban was affected the most, it is fully functional again, and fruit shipments have resumed, while a recovery process is still ongoing. The bulk-handling ports of Saldanha and Richards Bay were unaffected, and the impact was minimal on the Koega and Gqeberha trans-shipment hubs.

Knock-down effect expected

According to Magagula, the port closures did not severely impact trade.

“The port closures did not have a significant impact on trade. The situation seems to have been handled well, and port operations are almost back at full capacity. Our market traders reported delays with grape imports. However, we haven’t noticed major disruptions with other products, and business has been smooth. Possibly, we’ll be able to see the ripple effect in the coming months,” stated Magagula

According to the Ministry of Public Enterprises, cyber-attacks have increased in South Africa and globally, and the motive behind the cyber attack is still under investigation. According to Economists.co.za, a leading economic research house in South Africa, Transnet’s problems will not affect most commodity shipments. However, traders of agricultural goods will be the most affected, with a domino effect on the rest of the economy, cutting a few percentage points off the gross domestic product.

Sources:

• Bloomberg. “South Africa Port Operator Declares Force Majeure Over Cyber Attack.”
  
• Reuters. “South Africa's Transnet restores operations at ports after cyber attack.”
  
• Business Tech. “Cyber threats on the rise in these industries in South Africa.”
  
• Money Web. “Data ‘has not been compromised’ in Transnet cyber attack, says Gordhan’s department.”