Engineering News reports that the Department of Transport (DoT) anticipates that foreign nationals will soon be unable to drive South African registered trucks while in possession of foreign professional driving permits (PDPs).

This was indicated after the renewed closures of national roads (the N9, N10 and N3) by SA truck drivers and small truck operators this week in protest against the employment of foreign nationals as truck drivers at SA companies. In April, the DoT published an amendment to the Road Traffic Act regulations, which incorporated a provision that a PDP issued by a foreign country would only be applicable to a vehicle registered in that country. “Once this regulation comes into effect, a foreign national will, therefore, not be permitted to drive a South African registered truck using a foreign PDP. The amendments to the regulations are now before Parliament for comment as required by law, and we anticipate publishing amended regulations by the end of November,” the department advised. In addition to the amended regulations, the DoT said it was also strengthening the process of validation and verification of immigration documents, work permits and foreign drivers’ licences. “Our national Road Traffic Act requires foreign operators to make use of an operator permit/card … These cards will have a one-year validity period and non-compliance with relevant laws will result in the deregistration of the operator in question,” the DoT explained. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed his appreciation for “the peaceful manner in which the [truck drivers] conducted their protests”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News

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