Five Years of Uninterrupted Service Delivery to Transnet
Pursuant to a High Court Order by Judge Keightley in 2018 awarding the IT Data Services contract to Gijima, as the highest scoring bidder, instead of T-Systems South Africa with its Gupta-linked B-BBEE partner, Sechaba Computers, it commenced its partnership with Transnet shortly after, marking the beginning of a highly technical and complex Outsource Contract transition from the then disqualified service provider, T-Systems.
Since the start of the contract with Transnet, Gijima has successfully transitioned and maintained the IT environment, consistently achieving over 99% uptime for more than 5 years – without a single breach, Priority 1 incident nor interrupted services – thereby ensuring the continuous safety and operational stability of Transnet’s critical systems that drive the Rail & Port logistics for South Africa and SADC. Together, Gijima and Transnet have safeguarded the seamless functioning of South Africa’s transport and rail economy through the reliable delivery of essential IT services by Gijima.
In compliance with its obligations, Gijima commenced preparations for a structured disengagement and handover process. However, Transnet’s lack of readiness and cooperation threatened to jeopardises the stability thereof, and by extension, the broader railway economy of South Africa.
On 16 October 2025, Transnet was highly criticised in a judgement handed down in the Gauteng Division High Court in Pretoria by Acting Judge Minnaar who dismissed an urgent High Court application instituted by Transnet against Gijima to exit the soon to expire contract. In its urgent application, which was found not to be urgent, Transnet sought an order directing Gijima to hand over the IT services to Transnet. What Transnet failed to appreciate is that in order to do so, Transnet needed to be equipped and upskilled to assume such services, which Transnet is not as per the judgement. Gijima is a long standing Systems Intergrator with deep domain knowledge of disengaging and the transitioning of complex IT contracts.
Transnet however did not heed Gijima’s warnings regarding its approach which was adversely impacting the contract. The services in question include data centre and hosting services which involve providing the necessary services and activities to support Transnet’s centralised production, quality assurance and development computing environments 24/7 using Gijima’s data centre. These services cater to the entire country’s rail network running container and wagon services over thousands of kilometres of rail with hundreds of depots and shunting yards.
Gijima persistently held the view that Transnet’s application was premature given that the relief sought would prejudice not only Transnet, but South Africa given the vital dependency the country has on Transnet’s logistics delivery. Transnet however did not heed Gijima’s warnings about its approach which was adversely impacting the contract. The services in question include data centre and hosting services which involve providing the necessary services and activities to support
Transnet’s centralised production, quality assurance and development computing environments 24/7 using Gijima’s data centre. These services cater to the entire country’s rail network running container and wagon services over thousands of kilometres of rail with hundreds of depots and shunting yards.
The judgement noted that “Transnet did not, as at date of launch, by 30 June 2025, or even at the hearing of the oral evidence, possess the technical capability, infrastructure, or skilled personnel to assume the services.” He stated that “The way Transnet elected to proceed constitutes recklessness in prosecuting the application.”
Gijima, a proud 100% Black South African owned, Level 1 B-BBEE technology expert, with the requisite knowledge and experience of over three decades, has once again been vindicated by a court of law. This knowledge and expertise was evidenced by its technical experts, Mr Sylvester Samuel, Group Chief Operating Officer, and Mr Vincent Willie, Business Manager, who testified to fully explain the detail of the environment and the complexity of the systems operating the trains. Transnet on the other hand only had its Chief Information Officer Pandelani Munyai, as the lone voice attempting to justify its readiness to run the IT operations. Strangely, there were no other witnesses from Transnet notwithstanding that Mr Munyai was not involved nor hands on in the execution of the contract or attendance of executive steering committee meetings where the contract operations were extensively and technically discussed. “On the evidence of its own witnesses, Transnet had not achieved, and indeed had not even initiated, the foundational step required to transition the mainframe environment, which is the cornerstone of its ICT infrastructure” noted AJ Minnaar. This was confirmed by Transnet’s key witness and Transition Partner, Microsoft South Africa, who confirmed a grave picture of the lack of readiness required to execute the relief sought.
Gijima welcomes the High Court’s recognition of proper procurement principles and the Rule of Law, reinforcing confidence in South Africa’s justice system. The judgement affirms Gijima’s proven delivery record and commitment to ‘safeguarding the clients environment “ given the deep and knowledgeable understanding of the said environment and co-dependencies. Gijima acknowledge the Judge’s award of the costs on an attorney and client scale, which is a more stringent cost order against Transnet.
Gijima looks forward to Transnet’s compliance with the Court Order and remains committed to ensuring continuity and sustainability of South Africa’s railway economy within the scope of its obligations. Gijima again commits to an orderly disengagement and hopes Transnet shall also begin with its transition plan when the parties meet. However, Gijima committed to both the Court and Transnet that we will not jepordises the smooth operations of Transnet especially TFR whose uninterrupted services are a lifeblood of our country’s transport logistics.
Gijima Media Announcement – 17 October 2025 Issued