TimesLIVE reports that the N3, one of SA’s busiest trucking routes, has become the most fearful route for truck drivers.  

Etuan van der Westhuizen, MD of Hestony Trucking, said the N3 was Gauteng’s “bloodline” but his drivers had become fearful and reluctant to drive the route after the continuous attacks on trucks.  “There are thousands of drivers and crew whose lives are at risk, not to mention valuable cargo.  The risks to our business are immense,” he pointed out.  The SA Road Freight Association (Sarfa) has appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa for urgent intervention by government to help the industry curb the attacks.  Though the attacks come amid sporadic protests against foreign national drivers, the association believes there are other motives behind the criminality.  “We have seen SA citizens attacked, seriously injured and even killed in this activity ... Clearly — this is not about foreign drivers.  These attacks are being carried out with military precision, indicating that there is a strong co-ordinated leadership element with some level of formal military training,” Sarfa said.  The association went on to observe:  “When attacks occur you need security escorts, which cost money. It becomes more expensive for companies which hire trucks to transport their goods.  The result is rising costs get passed on to the consumer.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos and Graeme Hosken at TimesLIVE

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