Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      World Bank set to back South Africa’s big energy grid roll-out

      20 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Sita hits back at critics, promises faster, automated procurement

      20 June 2025

      The transatlantic race to create the first television

      20 June 2025

      Listed: All the MVNOs in South Africa – 2025 edition

      19 June 2025
    • World

      Watch | Starship rocket explodes in setback to Musk’s Mars mission

      19 June 2025

      Trump Mobile dials into politics, profit and patriarchy

      17 June 2025

      Samsung plots health data hub to link users and doctors in real time

      17 June 2025

      Beijing’s chip champions blacklisted by Taiwan

      16 June 2025

      China is behind in AI chips – but for how much longer?

      13 June 2025
    • In-depth

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025

      MultiChoice may unbundle SuperSport from DStv

      12 June 2025

      Grok promised bias-free chat. Then came the edits

      2 June 2025

      Digital fortress: We go inside JB5, Teraco’s giant new AI-ready data centre

      30 May 2025

      Sam Altman and Jony Ive’s big bet to out-Apple Apple

      22 May 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | AfriGIS’s Helen Hulett on how tech can help resolve South Africa’s water crisis

      18 June 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E2: South Africa’s digital battlefield

      16 June 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E1: Starlink, BEE and a new leader at Vodacom

      8 June 2025

      TCS+ | The future of mobile money, with MTN’s Kagiso Mothibi

      6 June 2025

      TCS+ | AI is more than hype: Workday execs unpack real human impact

      4 June 2025
    • Opinion

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025

      Singapore soared – why can’t we? Lessons South Africa refuses to learn

      13 June 2025

      Beyond the box: why IT distribution depends on real partnerships

      2 June 2025

      South Africa’s next crisis? Being offline in an AI-driven world

      2 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Information security » Transnet finally confirms it was hit by a cyberattack

    Transnet finally confirms it was hit by a cyberattack

    By Suren Naidoo27 July 2021
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp

    In an unprecedented move, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) declared force majeure on Monday following the ongoing fallout from a cyberattack last week which hit the entire Transnet group, South Africa’s state-run ports operator and freight rail monopoly.

    While the group has tried to play down the hacking — initially describing it as a “disruption on its IT network” — TPT’s confidential force majeure letter to customers on Monday confirmed that it is “an act of cyberattack, security intrusion and sabotage”. The veracity of the letter has been confirmed by several Transnet and logistics industry sources.

    The letter is titled “Declaration of force majeure for Transnet Port Terminals container terminals in the Ports of Durban, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town – confidential notice to customers”. It was sent out by TPT CEO Velile Dube. This confirms a major blow for Transnet, with TPT being one of its biggest and most important divisions.

    On Monday, the websites of Transnet and its divisions were still offline – for the sixth day. The group had resorted to a manual system

    TPT operates the container handing facilities at Durban – sub-Saharan Africa’s busiest container port – as well as container terminals in Cape Town and the Eastern Cape ports of Ngqura and Port Elizabeth.

    On Monday, the websites of Transnet and its divisions were still offline – for the sixth day. The group had resorted to a manual system in an effort to continue to operate key divisions, such as TPT. However, with further tru0cking delays, especially at the Port of Durban (which handles over 60% of South Africa’s container traffic), TPT seems to have had no option but to institute force majeure on Monday.

    ‘An act of cyberattack’

    “This serves as notice of declaration of force majeure event, which occurred on 22 July 2021 and continues to persist, when Transnet, including TPT, experienced an act of cyberattack, security intrusion and sabotage,” the letter states.

    It adds that this has “resulted in the disruption of TPT normal processes and functions or the destruction or damage of equipment or information”.

    “Investigators are currently determining the exact source of the cause of compromise and extent of the ICT data security breach/sabotage. Transnet is implementing all available and reasonable mitigation measures to limit the impact of this compromise,” the letter further states.

    “Accordingly, TPT hereby invokes the provisions of clause 11.1 read together with clause 11.2.11, of the TPT conditions of trade and as TPT is prevented from, or delayed in performing any of its obligations under such conditions of trade or such commercial agreements in respect of the container sector, hereby gives notice of an FM (force majeure) event declaration with immediate effect,” Dube explains in the notice.

    “TPT’s relief from liability stipulated herein will remain in full force and effect despite the implementation of the mitigation measures detailed herein,” he adds. “In keeping with the provisions of clause 11 of the TPT conditions of trade, TPT has put certain mitigation measures in place to ensure operations at the container terminals are still running albeit slower than expected.

    “One such measure is to ensure that a manual system has been put into place for the loading and discharge of containers. Further, in the event that any damage occurs during operations, customers will be notified using a manual process which will be confirmed via e-mail as soon as TPT systems are up and running again,” it notes.

    Dube gave further details of how TPT would be treating berthing as well as imports and exports at the affected container terminals while the IT system remains offline.

    • This article was originally published on Moneyweb and is used here with permission

    Now read: Transnet isolates source of IT disruption



    top Transnet Velile Dube
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleWatch | Modern app development: Red Hat on-demand webinar
    Next Article Logitech’s gadgets business is booming amid the pandemic

    Related Posts

    More good news for South Africa

    19 November 2024

    The extraordinary cost of bailing out South Africa’s SOEs

    16 October 2024

    The crime problem crippling Eskom and Transnet

    4 September 2024
    Company News

    Making IT happen: how Trade Link gears up to enable SA retail strategies

    20 June 2025

    Why parents choose CambriLearn for online education

    19 June 2025

    Disrupt first, ask questions later – the uncomfortable truth about incident response

    18 June 2025
    Opinion

    South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

    17 June 2025

    AI and the future of ICT distribution

    16 June 2025

    Singapore soared – why can’t we? Lessons South Africa refuses to learn

    13 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.