Cyber hack hits Transnet’s operations

State-run logistics and port operator Transnet has been hit by an apparent cyber hack, with several of its websites offline on Thursday.

Moneyweb was alerted to the issue by concerned freight industry insiders, however, Transnet Group is yet to confirm the extent of the IT outage and if all divisions are affected.

A letter to clients on Thursday morning from the Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) division, seen by Moneyweb, states that “Transnet is currently experiencing a problem with some of its IT applications”.

“We have had to shut them [the IT applications] down to identify the source of the problem.”

“We have activated our business continuity plans in order to contain any adverse impact on operations,” the letter adds.

“We are working to reduce the downtimes to ensure that the systems are up and running again as soon as possible,” it further notes.

It is unclear if all Transnet divisions are affected, but Moneyweb could not access the group’s website as well as the websites of several of its divisions, including TFR and Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) this morning.

The TPT division operates the country’s port terminals, including terminals at major container ports like Durban, Ngqura (Eastern Cape) and Cape Town.

TPT sent a similar letter to clients this morning as TFR.

The IT outage could not have come at a worse time for Transnet, after last week’s riots and unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng, which brought some of its operations to a halt. Operations have since restarted, but the IT issue is affecting some of its operations.