Competition Commission affirms FSA’s suitability as an independent facilitator

 As reported recently, following the Block Exemption which FSA secured for our Sector to collaborate amongst ourselves and with Transnet Freight Rail to support the migration of timber from road back onto rail, we encountered some challenges with some staff in TFR. They expressed the opinion that FSA was not suitably independent to perform the role of facilitator for our members and between our members and TFR. As if by chance, the Competition Commission then sent FSA a letter stating the same and in which they revised their original position in which we were considered to be suitable. Also as if by chance, this coincided with a WhatsApp sent to me by a former Chief Executive of TFR, offering his services to us!

FSA instead wrote a detailed appeal to the Competition Commission stating why we were imminently suited to play this role and requesting them to reconsider their revised position. We also sought the support of Deputy Minister Singh’s office and the Presidency, should our appeal be unsuccessful.

We are thus delighted to report that we have today received another letter from the CC, affirming FSA’s suitability to play the role of independent facilitator!

We trust that this will add additional momentum to the major progress which we have recently made with the CEO of TFR and his senior management team and on which our Operations Director reported in yesterday’s Executive Committee Meeting.

We are grateful to Deputy Minister Singh and his Staff and to the Presidency for their continued oversight and support to our sector, on key enabling issues which will support the growth, competitiveness, employment and empowerment opportunities in our Sector.