Xenophobic fears escalate as truck torching flares up

South Africa’s road transport industry found itself in a powder keg situation on Monday as the All Truck Drivers Association (ATDF) started a spring offensive against foreign national drivers and the hauliers purportedly employing them. The violent disruption reported from places like Piet Retief, Richards Bay, Bethal, Pietermaritzburg and Kuruman came despite a stern government warning that it would take strong action against any violence directed at trucks and drivers on local roads. In line with its violent intentions sent through to FTW last week, the ATDF proceeded on Sunday to stoke the fires of freight-related insurrection by blockading transporters passing in and out of the Richards Bay area. One source, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, said “police detained 11 drivers involved in an incident near the harbour”. In an update sent through later that evening he added that the road to the Port of Richards Bay “has been opened even though a few trucks remain on the bridge. Police are escorting other trucks to a safe area”. The same source shared the following with FTW: “Near Kuruman the road has been blocked and truck keys had to be handed over. “N2 Piet Retief – trucks have been pulled off and directed back to the trucks port. At the round-about in Bethal no trucks can move.” The element of danger and outright vigilantism also seemed clear from the presence in certain areas of “heavily armed occupants that force trucks off the road”. In a video sent to FTW, a foreign national working in the sector explains how he avoided a life-threatening situation by not stopping his rig. Standing in front of his truck whose windscreen was cracked from rock throwing, he explained how protesters in a car had passed him and tried to force him off the road. “But I didn’t stop. I just carried on going. I’m a foreigner and I know that they would’ve killed me if I had stopped.” Further reports of violent attacks also stated that trucks had been torched on the N3 near Ashburton in Kwa-Zulu Natal and the N2 near Port Shepstone. Following Sunday’s ATDF violence, the ministers of police, home affairs, labour and employment, and transport all attended an urgent meeting to discuss how to respond to the crisis. Transport minister Fikile Mbalula said “we condemn the ongoing violence and agree that it is nothing but economic sabotage threatening the viability of the SADC region. “The meeting emphasised that the acts of sabotage are spearheaded by criminal elements.” More importantly, the ministers undertook to do the following: • Law enforcement will ensure that the authority of the state is not undermined and visibility will be increased in certain hotspots. • Through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, regional counterparts should be engaged to address this matter. • There will be continuous joint inspections taking place in all provinces to ensure compliance in the sector. A task team has agreed to develop a clear action plan and provide regular updates on the progress made to the joint inter-ministerial task team. And despite arrests made in Richards Bay and elsewhere, transport industry representatives have rallied around urging government to take strong and decisive action. Road Freight Association CEO Gavin Kelly said “the ADTF, despite its communication, has rolled out a programme of violence against the road freight industry, allegedly to force transporters to terminate the employment of all foreigners in the industry. This despite various discussions and agreements with various roleplayers in the industry. “The government has committed to ending this a number of times. Yesterday they committed themselves again. It is time for this to stop. Innocent drivers, individuals and operators are being caught up in this violence. “Previously the government seemed reluctant to get involved in a decisive and firm manner – hopefully they will now act.” Priya Hassan, chair of Positive Freight Solutions, issued a stronger rebuke of what appears to be a lack of urgency on the part of government. “We need to see more arrests. We need to show them (the ATDF) that this will not be tolerated.” Kevin Martin, a logistics expert and past chairman of the Harbour Carriers’ Association, was the most critical of all when approached for comment. The Department of Transport, he said “has threatened to form a squad to take action but it’s all useless. What is the law for in this country? “For safety and security to be trusted and feared it has to be seen to be believed but unfortunately South Africa seems to have descended into a state of lawlessness where criminals seem like they’re getting away with it.”