A cyber attack disrupted operations at South Africa’s busiest container terminals, the biggest on the continent, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
Transnet, which operates major South African ports, including Durban and Cape Town, and a huge railway network that transports minerals and other commodities for export, confirmed its IT applications were experiencing disruptions and it was identifying the cause.
It declined to comment on whether a cyber attack caused the disruption. Two of the sources, who asked not to be named because they are not authorised to speak to the press, said an attack occurred early on Thursday.
Cape Town Harbour Carriers Association said in an email to members, seen by Reuters: “Please note that the port operating systems have been cyber-attacked and there will be no movement of cargo until the system is restored.”
Transnet’s official website was down on Thursday showing an error message.
The state-owned company already suffered major disruptions to its ports and national freight rail line last week following days of unrest and violence in parts of the country.
The latest disruption has delayed containers and auto parts, but commodities were mostly be unaffected as they were in a different part of the port, a source with direct knowledge said.
It will also create backlogs that could take time to clear.
Transnet said its container terminals were disrupted while its freight rail, pipeline, engineering and property divisions reported normal activity.