Truck drivers protest foreign employment
TRUCK drivers held a national shut down yesterday in protest over the employment of foreign nationals for lower wages across the economy.
The shutdown was preceded by attacks on trucks along roads across all provinces, as well as appeals on social media for the disruption of traffic and attacks on trucks driven by foreigners.
There were reports of multiple trucks across the N7 between Atlantis and Morningside.
City Traffic Services spokesperson Maxine Bezuidenhout said: “Officials on scene diverted motorists along the shoulder. The N1 was closed in Kraaifontein. Motorists were being diverted through the Engen Service station.”
National police spokesperson Vish Naidoo added: “The national joint operational structure has issued directives to law enforcement role-players, including the SAPS, to activate their contingency plans at all provinces to ensure that the planned national truck shutdown is policed efficiently.
“There will be zero tolerance to any intimidation against truck drivers as well as other road users. Law enforcement will ensure that there are no criminal activities and that the lives of law-abiding citizens are not put in danger.”
Labour Department spokesperson Teboho Thejane said: “We call on road freight industry workers to air their grievances and to stage protests within the confines of the law as it is within their right to do so.
“Protesters are also reminded that the country is still under the state of disaster and the public has to abide by the disaster management regulations which are governing the state of disaster, one of which prohibits gatherings other than a funeral, church service and gathering for work-related purposes.”