Torching of six trucks on N3 a ‘planned attack’
THE TORCHING of six trucks on the N3 highway at Van Reenen’s Pass has been labelled a ruthless attack on the road freight supply chain with a far-reaching effect on the economy, business confidence, security, as well as law and order in corridor movement.
This was according to the Road Freight Association (RFA) which said it was nothing but a co-ordinated attack on the road freight sector.
“The specific spot on the N3, and the timing, were chosen to cause the most mayhem and disruption. The long-term effects will bring greater destruction to employment and will result in further job losses, as businesses and supporting sectors shrink and trade moves away from South Africa,” said RFA CEO Gavin Kelly.
The immediate short-term losses will run into millions of rand – the cost of vehicles, cargo, personal effects, road damage, EMS response, delays in movement, and shipping penalties, he said. The long-term impact will be felt in terms of increased security costs into the cost of logistics, higher insurance premiums, higher Sasria cover premiums, higher toll fees, less freight movement through South Africa, closure of freight companies and loss of jobs.
“Depending on the category of vehicle, the type, and value of the cargo, the specialised equipment required for the cargo the costs can be anywhere between R3 and R10 million. A simple calculation of capital losses (assets and cargoes) of the six trucks destroyed amounts to anything between R18 and R60 million.”
Kelly said the cost of loss of income through businesses closing was far greater, this was if any of the trucks belonged to a small business.
“It will have lost its only truck or trucks meaning a loss of earnings/ revenue for the business, loss of salaries paid to staff who would no longer have jobs (due to business shutdown), and loss of revenue through the services the business uses such as fuel, storage, maintenance, tolls, staff requirements, and licensing,” said Kelly.
He said the targeted precision of the attack was worrying; this was well planned and efficiently implemented.
“At this point, no group has claimed responsibility. If this is the same grouping behind such attacks across the country over the past six years, then action needs to be taken. We have heard the Police Minister refer to economic sabotage, but it would seem this behaviour continues unabated.”
Kelly said if the attack was the work of the All Truck Drivers Foundation (ATDF-SA) and its counterparts relating to the employment of illegal foreigners in the road freight (or any other) sector, then the Employment and Labour Department, and its inspection structures, must strictly and swiftly protect employees and employers from non-compliant labour practices.
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