A trucking group has written a letter to president Ramaphosa as attacks continue – here’s what it says

The Road Freight Association has written an open letter to president Cyril Ramaphosa as attacks against truck drivers in South Africa continue to escalate.

On Thursday (19 November) more than 20 trucks were petrol-bombed and destroyed on various roads in the Heidelberg area.

The violence has continued this week, with further attacks and murders on major national highways including the N12 and the N3.

The association said that the truckers are being attacked by forces under the pretext of foreign nationals ‘taking jobs away from citizens’.

This results in damaged and totally destroyed lives, companies, employment opportunities, economic activity, goods, vehicles, facilities, roads and foreign investment to move goods through South Africa into Africa, it said.

“This matter has been with us for over three years now and nothing – other than the shifting of blame and endless talks – has transpired. No resolution has been forthcoming.”

The association said it and other industry stakeholders have met on numerous occasions with relevant ministers, been involved in the ministerial task team created to address this, forwarded proposals and actions to address the matter and attempted to resolve all labour-related matters through the correct structures.

“However – there are roles required by the various government agencies that have not been implemented effectively nor urgently enough to address this very serious matter,” it said.

The association said it has seen South African citizens attacked, seriously injured and even killed in this activity ‘aimed at foreign drivers’. “Clearly – this is not about foreign drivers.”

“These attacks are being carried out with military precision, indicating that there is a strong coordinated leadership element with some level of formal military training. We are not clear on what the objective is – but the destabilisation of the country seems to be large part of this.”

JHB – N12 Highway: BURNING TRUCKS (2) at Etwatwa pic.twitter.com/PIioGpDJwM

— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) November 25, 2020

Foreign nationals targeted

On Monday (23 November) members of the All Truck Drivers Foundation and the UmKhonto WeSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) marched in Durban, calling for foreign nationals to be deported, GroundUp reported.

Dumisani Ngcobo, treasurer at the Durban branch of the All Truck Drivers Forum, said they submitted a memorandum to the Transnet Port Authority at Bayhead Road entry point with an ultimatum that no truck with a South African registration should enter the harbour if driven by a foreign national after 1 December.

In a statement, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala appealed for calm and a peaceful resolution to the concerns of truck drivers.

He said the Department of Labour and Home Affairs are currently involved in a process of developing legislation that will address employment of non-South Africans in all sectors of the economy, including road freight.

“We must however reiterate that we will not allow lawlessness to threaten our economy, more so as we emerge from the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. We thus call on those who have grievances to work with us and not to shut down our roads, torch trucks or even resort to attacking truck drivers as has happened before,” said Zikalala.

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