Transnet Freight Rail has fired the companies that it hired to secure the coal line (Photo: Beeld)
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), which is battling to improve freight volumes, has been caught short after it appointed a contractor with insufficient capacity and a dubious reputation to secure its valuable coal line.
In August last year, a joint venture between Servest, Amahlo Consulting, and Advanced Aerial was awarded the security contract for the 700km coal line from Ogies in Mpumalanga to Richards Bay. However, according to industry players, the JV failed to deploy sufficient manpower.
Insiders say that the number of incidents on the line had begun to decrease with assistance from the private sector. But after the JV took over in August, progress was reversed.
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