Truck operators have been warned to “desist” from employing foreign nationals as truck drivers, according to a joint statement issued this week by a ministerial task team which was established to address the ongoing violence and protests on South African roads.
“Driving is not a scarce skill in South Africa and there are currently no companies that have officially applied for scarce skills dispensation as per the law,” reads the statement. It was issued after a meeting with the task team and affected parties – including Satawu, the National Bargaining Council, the All Truck Drivers Foundation and the National Truck Drivers Foundation – in Durban over the weekend.
A number of protests – which saw highways being blocked, trucks set alight and stones being thrown – have been staged since April last year, ostensibly to strike against foreign drivers being appointed instead of locals. An operator who preferred to remain anonymous however told FTW Online it was “not as cut-and-dried” as that, especially as many South African drivers had been attacked as well.
CEO of the Road Freight association (RFA), Gavin Kelly, pointed out in an earlier discussion with FTWO that many operators also preferred employing foreign nationals for cross-border trips.
“This is because they speak the language, know the road conditions better etc,” he explained. Very often the operators would switch to South African drivers once they crossed the border again, for exactly the same reasons.
“As government, we appeal to employers to act in a responsible manner in handling labour matters and following on necessary labour prescripts, “said Minister of Transport, Blade Nzimande. Responsible government departments would conduct law enforcement operations, including unannounced visits and inspections, at the premises of operators and logistics companies to ensure compliance with the country’s labour laws, he added.
