Transnet declares force majeure over cyberattack and sabotage. What does this mean and what is a cyberattack?
Force majeure is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war, strike, riot, crime, epidemic or sudden legal changes prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract.
A cyberattack is any offensive maneuver that targets computer information systems, infrastructures, computer networks, or personal computer devices. An attacker is a person or process that attempts to access data, functions, or other restricted areas of the system without authorization, potentially with malicious intent.
Transnet, South Africa’s state-owned ports and freight-rail company, declared force majeure at the country’s key container terminals after disruptions caused by a cyberattack five days ago.
Reuters reported that a document sent to customers, dated Monday, said the force majeure would affect container terminals in Durban, Ngqura, Gqeberha and Cape Town due to “an act of cyberattack, security intrusion and sabotage” which has disrupted normal processes and continues to persist.
The disruption raised concerns that more than 55,000 employees would not be paid on Tuesday. However, SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union deputy general secretary Anele Kiet confirmed staff were paid on time.
Disruptions to terminal operations threatens to have a ripple effect on Africa’s most-industrialised economy, particularly as Transnet’s Durban port handles 60% of the nation’s shipments. This also comes as a huge blow as the country tries to recover from the pandemic and a series of lockdowns and the recent looting.
The ports are also key to shippers from landlocked African countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Could the cyberattack have been prevented?
Cyber experts said that the breach of Transnet online data could have been prevented if the state-owned company had adequate defence systems in place.
Cyber security expert Mamale Luthili said that it would take some time for the company to sort out the problem.
“So the first thing that they need to do is to get an external company to come in and dedicate it to work on this, to try and kill this ransomware, which is going to be very difficult. You need the best companies in the world, with the software and that is going to counter what they’re doing,” she said.
In a statement issued by Transnet and dated 27 July 2021, they said significant progress has been made in restoring IT systems.
Update: Significant progress made on work to restore IT Systems pic.twitter.com/JBdSi45k5q
— Transnet SOC Ltd (@follow_transnet) July 27, 2021