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News24 reports that the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) plans to embark on a national shutdown on Monday, which is expected to disrupt major transport routes.
This will include the N3 between Durban and Johannesburg, which will be the epicentre of the shutdown. The message about the shutdown in protest at the hiring of foreign nationals was widely circulated on social media platforms. The Truckers Association of SA said it was still in communication with the Department of Transport and would communicate its decision whether to support the shutdown or not, after the meeting. National joint operations and intelligence structure (Natjoints) spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said: "As previously communicated, there will be zero tolerance towards threats, intimidation and closure of our roads. Law enforcement agencies are on high alert to ensure there are no criminal activities and that law abiding citizens are not inconvenienced." The CEO of the Road Freight Association (RFA), Gavin Kelly, confirmed that they were aware of the planned action by the ATDF-SA. The RFA called on the ATDF-SA to restrain its members from violence and to respect transporters and their drivers who were not party to their grievances. A risk assessment by the Fidelity Services Group, indicated the following: "Tensions were apparent in the trucking and road freight industry since 2018, related to the employment of foreign truck drivers. The ATDF-ASA contends that several trucking companies in the country routinely and illegally hire foreign truck drivers at a lower cost to increase profits. As a result, South African truck drivers are left jobless."
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24
- Read too, Truckers warned not to block highways in protest, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page