Real government intent to address the scourge of trucks being firebombed on South African roads because of apparent labour action became evident this morning with reports coming through of roadblocks on key highways.
This is in keeping with Kwa-Zulu premier Sihle Zikalala’s undertaking last Friday that the provincial legislature, together with the government and national law enforcement authorities, would take action against foreign national truck drivers suspected of working illegally in South Africa’s logistics sector.
He told journalists in eThekwini that main routes such as the N3 and N2 would be targeted by traffic officials and representatives of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), verifying that cross-border truck drivers had valid work permits.
Mike Fitzmaurice, chief executive of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), confirmed this, saying they had heard that the DHA had undertaken to ensure that no undocumented foreign drivers would be allowed in South African trucks.
“On that basis the All Truck Drivers’ Foundation (ATDF) – the organisation which has violently campaigned against foreign drivers working in the local road freight industry – said no more trucks would be burned,” Fitzmaurice said.
ATDF secretary general Sifiso Nyathi was also quoted elsewhere about reaching an agreement with the provincial government of KZN to work together in bringing an end to the truck burning that devastated the country’s road freight sector towards the end of November.
The fact that the ATDF’s willingness to cooperate with government in its attempt to address truck burning and that the arson attacks stopped soon thereafter has raised serious concerns though about what it implies. Does it mean that the organisation was admitting guilt in instigating the violence?
“I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies,” one transporter said, “although more than 30 trucks were set fire to and destroyed or seriously damaged over an eight-day period.
“When wolves and sheep come together for a peace deal in a crucial sector of our country’s economy it raises questions about how serious the government is to fight lawlessness.”
Nyathi though on several occasions denied that the ATDF was responsible for the attacks, despite widespread evidence that his organisation was the principal instigator.
“Nevertheless, it’s good news that this is happening,” Fitzmaurice said about government and the ATDF working together.
“Law enforcers will find though that most of the cross-border drivers operating in our transport sector are legally working in South Africa.”
Fesarta could not confirm whether they had heard where the roadblocks were.
“We haven’t been told anything. It will probably amount to spot checks over the festive season. I think you’ll find that authorities will be looking at pulling trucks over at toll gates where it’s easy to do so,” Fitzmaurice said.
Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association (RFA), said news of the roadblocks, although distributed via social media, was legitimate.
The cessation of hostilities on South Africa’s roads could not have come at a better time for transporters who are counting the cost of violent chaos on main routes at the end of a very difficult year - coming as it does when supply-chain demand is spiking in the run-up to Christmas.