Serious questions are being asked about the design of Transnet’s slot-sale process. The State-owned utility recently launched a bidding process for 16 rail slots, which will be sold ‘voetstoots’ to third-party operators for a period of two years on a take-or-pay basis. However, potential participants have warned that various aspects of the sale, especially the two-year limit, make it unappealing. Photograph: Creamer Media Chief Photographer Donna Slater