Trucking industry counts the cost of escalating violence

Violence has cost the trucking industry more than R1.2 billion in the past 18 months, leaving more than 200 people dead and 1 300 trucks damaged or destroyed. Delays in transport are estimated at a further R1.5 billion. That’s according to Road Freight Association (RFA) CEO Gavin Kelly who admits that they “simply
don’t know what is feeding the frenzy out there”. In the latest incident, a driver was trampled to death after the truck he was driving was stoned from a pedestrian overpass near De Doorns in the Western Cape. More incidents of truck stoning have been reported since then, making this particular stretch of road dangerous. But, says Kelly, this is not the only
dangerous place in the country. “It is nasty and it is violent and trucks are easy pickings. They travel at all times of day and night to and from every place in South Africa. There is very little we can do to ensure their safety apart from having a police vehicle escort each and every truck.” While private security companies have increased dramatically, having identified gaps in the
market, Kelly said private security was not the solution to the violence plaguing the industry as it would just escalate the cost of logistics. “It is an ongoing discussion in the road freight sector – should truck owners get private security to protect their loads? The fact is, a private security company has very little power in incidents of violence as they cannot clear a road or open fire. They
do not have the mandate of the South African Police Service.” Talk of trucks being covered in mesh and barbed wire to stop windows being broken by stones or cargo looted is a chilling reminder of South Africa’s violent past. Kelly said the burning and blockading of trucks had become quite prevalent in the past few months, but stones 
being hurled from a bridge was a new turn of events. “It is not just in De Doorns where it is dangerous for truck drivers,” said Kelly. “There are a number of dangerous hot spots. The question is, if this is about looting trucks why kill the driver?” He said the solution was not in private security, mesh or barbed wire – or even the deployment of the army to hot spots. “The only solution is that SAPS are going to have to do their job and enforce law and order.”
With no rationale behind the incidents it was important for the country to see perpetrators dealt with. Calls for those involved in the De Doorns incident to be charged with economic sabotage have been growing. According to a police spokesman the incidents involving trucks nationally remained sporadic and opportunistic, but interventions were being put in place. The RFA has lobbied the minister of police as well as the president to increase these efforts.