The civil action organisation notorious for its alleged involvement in terror-related resistance to the employment of foreign nationals in South Africa’s road freight sector, the All Truck Drivers Foundation (ATDF), has denied accusations that it was behind last week’s arson attacks.
That’s according to ATDF spokesperson Sefiso Nyathi who participated in a televised discussion last night on Newzroom Afrika.
Responding to a crime intelligence report exposing the ATDF as one of three organisations – the others being Allies SA (ASA) and Operation Dudula – behind the violence in which 21 truck cabins were destroyed, and in which fires often spread to trailers, Nyathi denied that anyone within the ATDF had received instruction to attack trucks.
Speaking in isiZulu, Nyathi said they were aware of what had happened and that law and order must run its course following the arrest of several suspects who were filmed by dashboard cameras setting fire to cabins.
According to a translator interpreting a recording of Nyathi’s participation in the interview, he said the ATDF, which is often combined with ASA, was not responsible for the attacks.
He lashed out though against the “empty promises” by government in addressing long-standing labour issues in the country’s logistics sector.
He said the ATDF would continue to protest on behalf of South African truck drivers who couldn’t find employment in their own country because transport companies preferred to employ foreign nationals.
Road freight operators contravening labour legislation should be taken to court and prosecuted, he added.
