KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Transport uncovered a multimillion-rand racket in the transportation of undocumented goods during a law enforcement blitz on the province’s roads this week.
Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, said on Tuesday that the department’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) officers had arrested seven drivers and impounded 14 abnormal load vehicles for violations of the National Road Traffic Act and immigration laws.
“From the seven foreign truck drivers, four are undocumented and have been detained. We are currently verifying the documents of the other three,” Duma said.
The arrests were made as part of the department’s recently launched operation #NenzaniLaEzweni that aims to improve road safety in the province.
Duma said four of the detained drivers were Malawians, two were Zimbabweans and one was Zambian.
“Critically, we wish to commend that team for uncovering what could be the biggest racket ever involving the transportation of undeclared and unverified goods by undocumented foreign nationals,” Duma said.
“The department could have lost R200 000 in undeclared goods over the past two hours. It is estimated that, in one month, between R2 million and R3 million in revenue is lost through this racket.
“Last week, I mandated RTI to have no mercy on undocumented foreign truck drivers. They are doing exactly that on the N3,” he said.
Some of the legal violations uncovered in the operation include: foreign truck drivers driving abnormal loads with no permits; permits not matching load specifications; no valid work permits; and no professional driving permits.
“We value the support of the Home Affairs' Immigration Unit and the Department of Health as we intensify this operation. We reiterate our commitment towards ensuring that our road networks are not used to transport drugs, illicit goods, human trafficking and cross-border crime in general.
“Finally, we will be naming and shaming some of the companies involved in this racket. It is the same companies that are using undocumented truck drivers,” Duma said.
