Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), the largest operating division of Transnet, forms part of the backbone of the South African economy via its freight services, innovation and investment in strategic infrastructure. The general counsel of TFR, Gert Boshoff, is supported by a six-person executive team, each member of which is responsible for key areas such as litigation or fraud risk management, and a wider 31-strong team.

The department has, according to Boshoff, been involved in ‘ground breaking’ projects, the most prominent among these being the Swaziland Rail Link and bi-modal rail and road cargo project, a system that will ensure the seamless transition from road to rail, a first for the African market.

The legal department at TFR advised on the transaction ‘from its outset’ and focused on the ‘legal aspects of terminal access, conditions of rail transport and service level agreements’ until the conclusion of the contracts in August 2016. The Swaziland Rail Link was a historically significant project, linking South Africa and Swaziland for the first time, ‘a significant milestone for both countries politically and commercially’.

Described by Boshoff as a ‘complex and demanding project’ which has required a number of transnational issues to be resolved, the legal department ‘has handled the complexity and demands of the project with distinction’, a testament to their depth of knowledge encompassing a number of areas. As well as overseeing these megaprojects, the legal team has succeeded in a number of internal improvements, including digitising their filing and document depository and embracing an initiative that will see newly qualified legal professionals undertake work experience at the company.