BL Premium reports that as turf wars continue unabated in the road freight and logistics industry, an association representing foreign truck drivers has called for government intervention after assaults by locals whom they accuse of unlawfully confiscating their documents, including drivers’ permits.
David Mfitshani, one of the leaders of the United Truck Drivers Association, said their members would be embarking on a five-day stayaway from 31 January to 4 February to raise awareness about increasing acts of violence on SA’s roads targeting foreign truck drivers. When violence in the trucking sector broke out in the past few years, local drivers accused foreigners of taking their jobs and criticised employers for preferring cheaper foreign drivers. The turf wars — which have cost the economy about R2bn — have claimed more than 200 lives and are threatening the survival of the crucial sector that employs more than 300,000 people. In November 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a team of ministers including Fikile Mbalula (transport), Thulas Nxesi (employment & labour), and Aaron Motsoaledi (home affairs) to look into the torching of trucks on the country’s roads and submit a report to him. Mbalula’s spokesperson advised that the interministerial committee was led by Nxesi and referred questions to Nxesi’s spokesperson Sabelo Mali, who said: “The minister remains committed to the last resolutions of the recent meeting with truck drivers’ associations a few weeks ago. Key to the resolutions was the need for continuous dialogue, registration of truck drivers associations to [the] bargaining council and an immediate end to violence and victimisation.” On Friday, Mfitshani said “not enough is being done” by the government to bring about labour peace in the sector.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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