Railway stations were quieter than usual with many empty platforms but with many more police officers in evidence. A police spokesperson said there were no reports of intimidation.

South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) general secretary Randall Howard called the strike a success saying that it had crippled the ports of Durban and Richards Bay.

'Keeping a close eye on the situation'He said Metrorail services had been severely affected. He said: "Metrorail has conceded that they are running below par and are using 53 buses to transport their commuters to and from work."

The Durban and Richards Bay ports were running at 60 percent and 50 percent capacity respectively on Monday as unions embarked on a strike at Transnet.

"We're running at 60 percent service in the Durban container terminal. In Richards Bay it's around 50 percent, according to the preliminary report," spokesperson John Dludlu said.

The company had a "very comprehensive" contingency plan which would raise capacity during the course of the day.

Workers at the two ports were attempting to march beyond agreed-upon picketing lines. In Richards Bay workers were trying to march through the terminal.

No reports of intimidation"We're talking to them about where to picket," Dludlu said.

Commuter trains in the Durban area were running at 30 percent of capacity because of the strike by Transnet's train drivers, Metrorail said.

"There are disruptions in Durban. We are providing about 53 buses, but that can never be enough, so we are asking commuters to consider other forms of transport," Metrorail spokesperson Thandi Mlangeni said.

She said train services in other provinces were not affected.

The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) said about 15 200 workers from all four unions involved in the dispute over restructuring were on strike at both ports.

"We're 100 percent satisfied (with the strike). There are very few trains and very little operations in the harbours," Utatu spokesman Steve Harris said.

"The workers are united, they will not capitulate at this point."

The effects of the strike and future action have reached into the highest echelons of government, which is extremely concerned about the rolling mass action by Transnet workers on Monday that threatens to bring harbours and rail transport in KwaZulu-Natal to a standstill.

Public Enterprises minister Alec Erwin was, however, still confident Transnet's management team knew what they were doing.

"Minister Erwin is keeping a close eye on the situation and is confident that the Transnet management team is handling the situation appropriately. He believes the management team is highly capable of exercising good judgment and supports them," said public enterprises spokesperson Gaynor Kast.

Monday's action was the result of union unhappiness of the parastatal s proposed restructuring, which they fear will cause massive job losses.

But despite their bitterness, Erwin on Monday firmly placed his weight behind the proposed changes urging that parastatal's proceed with requisite speed .

In response the unions kicked off their programme of rolling mass action this morning in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

It was expected to last for one day in the Free State and three days in KwaZulu-Natal where the strike was expected to culminate in a march in Durban on February 1.

SA Transport and Allied Workers Union spokesperson Randall Howard predicted Durban's container terminal and the port at Richard s Bay would be the worst affected but that rail and commuter services would also take strain as workers downed tools.

The war between management and union bosses moved to the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Monday as South African Airways (SAA) desperately tried to declare the involvement of its workers illegal.

SAA lodged an urgent application claiming the airline was not officially part of Transnet's bargaining council any more and as such any workers participating would not be protected and thus subject to dismissal.

But Howard argued that while they may not be part of the bargaining council they were still part of Transnet.

Part of the restructuring process involves SAA being moved out of the Transnet stable to an independent company.

"Our view is obviously the opposite and will oppose the application in the Labour Court today that seeks to deny thousand of our members the right to strike," Howard said on Monday morning.

Howard hoped the courtroom battle would finish by Wednesday to allow SAA workers time to express their grievances about the transformation process.

He warned if the dispute was not resolved shortly, the mass action would spread to other provinces affecting the Eastern Cape on February 13, Western Cape on February 14 and Gauteng on February 20.

"Should the dispute still not be resolved, the unions will recommend a national strike on March 6," Howard said.

Erwin was said to be keeping a very close eye on developments.

"Both the Chairman of the Board, Mr Fred Phaswana, and the CEO of Transnet, Ms Maria Ramos, are in constant contact with Minister of Public Enterprises, Alec Erwin, keeping him abreast of developments," Kast said.

Transnet is the holding company for Spoornet, Petronet, Metrorail and the National Ports Authority. The strike will also affect other ports and freight operations - hitting the export sector.

Unions say about 30 000 jobs will be lost in the restructuring. However, Erwin has dismissed this, saying workers were misinformed if they were told that thousands of jobs are at stake.

For commuters in Durban, the strike will mean trains will operate only in Umlazi, KwaMashu and Cato Ridge.

The trains will only run between peak times from 4am to 9am and from 2pm to 8pm.

Kwazulu-Natal Metrorail spokesperson Tozi Baloyi, said the decision to operate trains in certain areas was based on the number of staff that would work during the strike.

The remaining lines would be serviced by buses although preference would be given to weekly and monthly ticket holders.

"We advise other commuters to make alternative arrangements. As the situation improves we will review the situation," she said.

On the Umlazi and KwaMashu lines, trains will run at intervals of 45 minutes. KwaMashu trains will run only up to Berea Station, while Umlazi trains will run only up to Durban Station.

The Cato Ridge line trains will run from Cato Ridge to Rossburgh at two-hour intervals.

Buses will run from these areas:
* Kelso to Reunion.
* Crossmoor to Merebank.
* Pinetown to Rossburgh.
* Umgeni via Greenwood Park to Duffs Road.

* KwaDukuza to Duffs Road.