Ramaphosa denies plans to privatise Transnet
President Cyril Ramaphosa says there are no plans to privatise state-owned enterprise Transet.
Ramaphosa visited the Durban port on Thursday where he was met by picketing members of the Satawu (South African Transport and Allied Workers Union).
Workers are worried about their fate.
But Ramaphosa told them their concerns are unwarranted.
"We are going to be proceeding with what we have already said, which is that a number of other investments are so big that they require partners to be brought on board.
"We're not privatising it. Transnet will continue to bring in partners."
He did admit there might be some restructuring.
"Workers need not fear, they need not fear for the loss of their jobs. Their jobs will carry on.
"If anything, it will just be shifting here and there from one division to another," he added.
Ramaphosa vowed to see to it that Transnet continues to turn its fortunes around, after years of ineffective management.
Portia Derby was appointed as CEO of the railway company a year ago in a bid to recover the SOE.
"Transnet, as far as I'm concerned, has turned the corner. It is not under really good management, good corporate management as well through the board," he said.
Ramaphosa added he remains optimistic that the SOE will make a positive contribution to the job market.
"They're making plans for the future. They're already looking at 2032 and putting forward a plan which is going to require a R100 billion to invest, and which will create up to 180 000 type of jobs in the intervening period.
"We're going to create jobs here. We're going to create tens-and-tens-of-thousands of jobs here."
There are also plans to meet with leaders of the trade union to ease tensions.
"We will be meeting with Satawu to assure them and also to hear their views," Ramaphosa said.
"I have no real fear or concern. As the government, and the governing party we will continue to be biased towards the working class."
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