Transnet’s move to ban entry to the Port of Cape Town to truck drivers who hold special Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) that expired in December 2021 was “illegal” and had been reported to the authorities, the Road Freight Association (RFA) said on Friday.
SA marine consultant Dave Watts said transporters had raised concern that ZEP holders, whose permits had now expired but had been granted a 12-month grace period until December 2022 to get their papers in order with the Department of Home Affairs, had been barred from entering the port.
He said Transnet had issued a formal notice informing the industry of the decision to ban ZEP-holding truck drivers from the port.
According to an official notice issued by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), port security officer and chairman of the Maritime Security Committee for the Port of Cape Town, Arshaad Fester, TNPA will no longer issue port access permits to ZEP permit holders.
The notice was issued on December 2, 2021.
“This notice serves to inform our customers and port users of the announcement made by Cabinet on November 25, 2021 that no extensions will be granted on the Special ZEP.
“To this end, TNPA has decided that all port access permits issued to ZEP permit holders (expiring December 31, 2021) will not be renewed nor will any new applicant under this ZEP permit be processed,” Fester wrote in the notice.
“Customers are reminded that as from December 31, 2021 ZEP holders have a 12-month grace period to apply for an alternative permit appropriate for their particular situation.
“For example, those that are working will now have to apply for a work permit with all the relevant requirements.
“VFS Global South Africa has a website with the different types of permits and requirements needed to lodge applications,” he added.
Only applicants who have concluded their immigration visa applications and received approval will be processed for new or renewal of port access permits.
According to the directive issued by Home Affairs, ZEP holders have a grace period until 2022 to get their documents organised, while they remain in the country on their expired permits.
The directive states that holders of the exemption permit may not be “arrested, ordered to depart or be detained”.
RFA CEO Gavin Kelly described the move to ban drivers as “illegal”.
“The ZEPs remain in place (in terms of their validity) until December 31, 2022. All holders thereof have the year to replace these with another form of residence/permission document to remain in South Africa,” Kelly said.
“The authorities have been informed of this and they have already responded that they will correct the behaviour in the port.
“An update from TNPA is due to be circulated shortly.”
TNPA had not responded to questions sent earlier this week at the time of publication.
All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa secretary, Sifiso Nyathi, welcomed the ban on foreign drivers.
“To us it is a one-step victory and we appreciate it.
“It means those trucks that were being driven by foreign nationals we (South Africans) will now get a job.
“South Africans must come first because the job is not a critical skill.
“There are many people driving trucks in the SADC region and the rest of the world,” Nyathi said.
“If Transnet do that and say no more foreigners, we appreciate it.
“It means the rand will get stronger if unemployment goes down and we can get permanent jobs.
“The economy is going down and it (hiring foreigners) is not good for our country,” he said.
However, he added that foreigners who could teach locals critical skills were welcome to work in the country.
Nyathi alleged that some transport firm owners were taking advantage of foreign truck truckers by paying them less than local drivers and dodging tax by making deductions that were not paid over to the SA Revenue Service.
