Two trucks torched amid driver protests
VIOLENT protests across the country have seen more trucks being torched and several highways blockaded.
The N1 in the direction of Paarl was reopened yesterday evening after two trucks were set alight at around 1.45am, with motorists advised to make use of alternative routes.
Western Cape Traffic chief Kenny Africa said traffic officers were busy yesterday redirecting traffic on the N1 after the burning of trucks.
Police spokesperson FC Van Wyk said an investigation into the incident currently indicated that the drivers of two freight trucks were pulled over by a vehicle with armed men in it and they were threatened with firearms.
“Both trucks were carrying products for a chain grocery store,” said Van Wyk.
Van Wyk said the drivers subsequently abandoned the trucks and fled the scene, but the trucks were allegedly set alight.
“A malicious damage to property case was registered for investigation. The fire was extinguished by the Winelands Fire Department.”
DA provincial spokesperson on Transport and Public Works, Daylin Mitchell, condemned the violence and destruction of public property on national highways including the N1, N2 and N7.
Mitchell said the majority of the incidences were caused by truck drivers in protest of employment of foreign nationals.
He said while truck drivers, like everyone, have the right to engage in protest action, “this needs to follow due process and not negatively impact other commuters as well as the supply chain of goods in the province”.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that truck drivers have chosen to protest by blocking vital arterial routes,” said Mitchell.
Ebrahim Rasool, director of OneAfrica.org a public benefit organisation whose objective is to work with African communities, governments and businesses to strengthen social and economic cohesion, said threats by striking truck drivers to attack and seize the keys of trucks belonging to foreign nationals amounts to xenophobic hate speech and cannot be tolerated.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) distanced itself from the strike saying it was unclear who had called it.
Satawu deputy general secretary Anele Kiet said the strike did not emanate from the bargaining council.
“We strongly believe that each and everything that has to do with workers in the industry has to be discussed there (at the bargaining council). We have fought hard for the Labour Relations Act that gives rise to the bargaining councils and we are a party to that bargaining council and, therefore, we don’t do anything outside the bargaining council,” Kiet said.
Kiet called on workers to report companies they work for that do not belong to the bargaining council so that their plight could be discussed.