ADTF ASA said it planned to disrupt transport and logistics on major national routes, including the N3 and N2 in KwaZulu Natal, on Saturday.
Image: File Picture: Karen Sandison African News Agency (ANA)
THE All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa’s (ADTF ASA) planned strike on Saturday, aims to disrupt major transport routes in KwaZulu-Natal, on May 30, raising concerns over undocumented foreign truck drivers and their impact on road safety.
ADTF ASA said it planned to disrupt transport and logistics on major national routes, including the N3 and N2 in KwaZulu Natal, on Saturday. The strike action is likely to affect the movement of goods and commuters.
The KZN Department of Transport (DoT) said on Thursday, that they were engaging with the national government on the planned strike action.
Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesperson for the KZN DoT, said they were concerned about the ongoing road accidents involving undocumented foreign truck drivers and the labour practices within the trucking industry.
He said the looming strike could disrupt transport and logistics on all major national routes.
Sibiya said the department had met with ADTF ASA in the past, to discuss some of their concerns.
“The association had also participated in our Nenzani La Ezweni operations targeting trucks. The national government has pronounced itself on matters related to marches for Saturday.
“We will remain guided by the national government on some of the issues. However, we do need to emphasize that we remain concerned about ongoing road accidents involving undocumented foreign truck drivers.
“We have stated in the past that the owners of companies that employed illegal foreign nationals to drive on our roads should be arrested. We have an enduring partnership with SAPS under the leadership of Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi,” Sibiya added.
He said the department had initially worked well with the Home Affairs Immigration Unit, and noted an increasing lack of co-operation.
This has resulted in the release of many undocumented foreign truck drivers that were arrested by RTI.
“The Department of Home Affairs is the custodian of immigration. The department is responsible for regulating the movement of foreign nationals into KZN and out of the province.
“In this regard, we are calling upon the Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber, to speedily intervene.
“Many people are dying on our road, and the minister must come to KwaZulu-Natal and be part of efforts to prevent carnage caused by undocumented foreign truck drivers.
“Towards the end of last year, we intercepted and impounded more than 15 abnormal load trucks that were transporting undeclared and unverified goods by undocumented foreign nationals. Seven of the foreign truck drivers who were driving these trucks, and four were undocumented.”
He said while the department waited for Schreiber to act, they remained committed towards ensuring that KZN road networks were not used to transport drugs, illicit goods, human trafficking, and cross-border crime in general.
Unfair labour practices
Sibiya said interviews with truck drivers revealed that there were no existing relationships between truck drivers and trucking companies, as there are no written contracts.
“The interviews also exposed that KZN truck drivers who insisted on written employment contracts are displaced with foreign nationals.
“Owners of trucking companies give cash to foreign truck drivers for bribes and use certain routes at night to avoid detection.
“No payslips are provided to the truck drivers, there are unlawful deductions, and hours of work are long in violation of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
“There are no overtime payments, no rest periods (days), no leave days for truck drivers, and they are paid as per load, and not given a basic salary. Sundays and public holidays are not paid for.”
Sibiya said they were acting decisively against undocumented foreign truck drivers.
“By and large, we will never turn our backs on concerns raised by ordinary members of society about anyone who is involved in illegal activities,” he added.