Road Closures Expected As Truckers Protest Over Foreign Drivers
The South African Police Service (Saps) has warned of oncoming “disruptive action” from the All Truck Drivers Forum (ATDF), as members gather for a weekend protest.
ATDF secretary-general Sifiso Nyathi confirmed on Thursday that all members will participate in the protest on Sunday, February 27.
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Truckers intend to block roads and highways in order to halt traffic on national highways.
The protest is intended to “intensify pressure on government to address [truckers’] grievances about South African trucking companies’ use of foreign truck drivers.”
Members will parade to negotiating councils and demand, “the whole freight industry to have zero percent of foreign nationals”.
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Nyathi added, “It is a common fact that we have hundreds of local truck drivers who are unemployed just because the foreign nationals have occupied those positions”.
ATDF-CT members delivered a memorandum to the Cape Town port late on Thursday. ATDF-ASA members have stated that they are tired of empty promises.
Truckers are also demanding a 15% salary increment for all South African truck drivers.
ATDF CT delivered a memorandum to CT port. They say all foreign truck drivers are occupying their jobs illegally – watch pic.twitter.com/g1aq4FBcB7
— SA Trucker (@rsa_trucker) February 24, 2022
ATDF demands that foreign national truck drivers “be removed from the freight industry with immediate effect,” and that “workers without permits be removed from trucks.”
Nyathi said, “On Sunday, drivers will park their trucks at the depot or at the truck stop for the remainder of the day.”
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The N2and N3 highways appear to be under attack this weekend, with Transnet warning of “disruptive actions at the Durban and Richard Bay ports.”
Gavin Kelly, chief executive officer of the Road Freight Association, stated that they are aware of the shutdown and are concerned about potential violent incidents.
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He urged authorities to keep “truck operators and trucks safe,” and added that ATDF members should not be permitted to “perpetrate any scene of violence.”
In response, Transnet stated that security clusters have implemented continency measures such as patrols and increased visibility by authorities.
Nokwanda Ndlela of Transnet advises customers to “proceed with caution and if possible, rather hold back RMT (Road Motor Transport) activities during the weekend.”
