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Following the recent widespread protests by both truck owners and drivers, the government is determined to address issues in the road freight industry. It has also pledged to accelerate policy changes within the sector.
This comes after the government met with disgruntled truckers and drivers who complained about foreign nationals taking their jobs and the lack of strict regulation in South Africa’s trucking industry.
Following this, the Ministers of Employment and Labour, Home Affairs, and the Deputy Minister of Police, as well as officials from the Department of Transport and other affected departments, committed to expediting policy changes to address some of the issues raised.
These include the employment of foreign nationals – particularly undocumented foreign nationals – and those who come to the country as visitors but end up working illegally.
Minister Thulas Nxesi acknowledged the trucking and other industries’ concerns about the employment of foreign nationals. Furthermore, he mentioned the various initiatives and meetings held to try to resolve ongoing issues such as:
- Formalisation of Forums into unions
- Issues pertaining to collective bargaining
- The attitude and behaviour of some employers in the industry who are accused of preferring to hire foreign nationals because they can exploit them.
“There are Home Affairs and Employment and Labour policy initiatives to address migration and related policy initiatives. However, I would like to appeal to those who feel aggrieved to desist from intimidation, road disruptions, undermining of existing laws and structures. We made a promise to meet the industry and we are committed to ensure that a workable solution is found through legislation and other means. We also encouraged that existing Forums at National and Provincial level take the opportunity to find solutions,” said Minister Nxesi.
This was echoed by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who assured the industry that the Border Management Authority (BMA) is being established and will engage the trucking industry.
In this regard, the Minister introduced the newly appointed BMA Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, and Deputy Commissioner for Operations, David Chilembe, to the stakeholders and urged them to work together to develop plans to address the border challenges.
“In the next few weeks, there will be far-reaching leadership and policy interventions by BMA as well as a number of initiatives that we have been involved in to resolve issues around this matter.”
Minister Motsoaledi
The Transportation Department is addressing licencing and other issues such as:
- Cross-border transportation relations
- The issuance of licences to foreign drivers
- Fake licences
- Employers who fail to comply will be prosecuted, and
- Industry discrimination against local drivers
The joint inspection to address noncompliance in the freight sector will also be stepped up, with law enforcement, including migration and road traffic, and South African Police Services taking a more active role. Additionally, the government has also promised to conduct a migration audit.
However, can South Africans expect more protest action from truck drivers during the holiday season?
In line with government initiatives to address concerns in the road freight industry, Lawrence Venkile, spokesperson for the Department of Transport’s Ministry, explains that the government takes the issues raised very seriously. Therefore, to avert further potential protests, he points out that, “Government is keeping open discussions with the truck drivers and their employers, looking at all their issues.”
He adds that this is in addition to the current initiatives and commitments made by the government and the various departments involved in the process.
It is important to note, Venkile adds, that employers are also coming to the table, seeking resolutions, cooperating with their employees, and supporting the government’s goals.
All of this is done to reduce the likelihood of further protest action.
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One Response
Why not giving them the proper documents bcz they’re the ones who worked very hard to put the industry were it is today, most locals used to prefer doing 7am – 5PM jobs claiming they cant sleep in the truck like diesel. Today most companies are big with modern trucks and the wages have gone up all of a sudden locals wanna be truckers? Completely not fair to our african brothers!!