An SA Trucker investigation has uncovered troubling labour practices involving foreign truck drivers operating South African-registered vehicles under contracts governed by foreign laws, in apparent conflict with local labour regulations and minimum wage standards.
Multiple drivers from Zimbabwe and Zambia approached SA Trucker with claims that they were recruited from the Wadeville offices of RP Africa Fleet Services South Africa Limited, only to be handed employment contracts linked to foreign jurisdictions, particularly Zimbabwe, where wages are significantly lower than South Africa’s minimums.
Signed in SA, Paid Like They’re in Zimbabwe
According to documents and testimonies obtained by SA Trucker, Zimbabwean drivers working for companies linked to RP Africa Fleet Services and Africa Fleet Services Zimbabwe Limited are paid a basic salary of USD $363 (about R6,500) – less than half of the R16,469.81 minimum monthly wage prescribed by the Main Collective Agreement of the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI).
These drivers are based in South Africa and operate trucks for companies such as TAC, Cereth, Afbuy, and others – all of which are registered in South Africa.
“We were recruited from Wadeville and told to sign a contract from Zimbabwe, even though we’d be working from South Africa,” said one Zimbabwean driver who requested anonymity.
What the Law Says
In response to SA Trucker’s queries, the NBCRFLI confirmed that any driver operating in South Africa, regardless of nationality, must be employed under South African labour legislation and paid according to the Main Collective Agreement.
“If a foreign driver operates full-time in South Africa and within the scope of the Road Freight and Logistics Bargaining Council, their employment should fall under the Main Collective Agreement,” the NBCRFLI spokesperson, Amos Tshabalala stated.
“Employers are prohibited from employing any person whose immigration status does not authorise employment in South Africa,” he added, citing Clause 58 of the MCA.
Border Loopholes and Visa Workarounds
Several drivers admitted to entering South Africa on visitor’s visas, only to be employed from Wadeville within days.
They revealed that border authorities initially blocked their travel, as they lacked proper work authorisation to exit the country with SA-registered trucks. To resolve this, the Zimbabwean affiliate of RP Africa issued letters quoting Section 11(1)(a) of the Immigration Act to enable cross-border passage.
One such letter reads (in part):
“We hereby request you to allow the above-mentioned person entry and safe passage into South Africa… in terms of Section 11(1)(a)… for the purpose of offloading, cargo as per the transport manifest… and to attend to possible vehicle maintenance… The said driver… has no intention to seek any form of employment within the borders of South Africa.”
However, this section only applies to foreign-employed drivers operating foreign-registered trucks. In these cases, the drivers are employed by a Zimbabwean entity but work full-time in South Africa, operating SA-registered trucks for SA-registered companies – a legal contradiction that immigration and labour authorities may be overlooking.
RP Africa Refuses to Engage, Threatens SA Trucker
When approached for comment, RP Africa Fleet Services South Africa Limited declined to respond to the specific allegations. Instead, their legal representatives issued a letter denying wrongdoing and warning SA Trucker against publishing.
“Our client is compliant with all relevant legislation… and is not a labour broker,” their lawyer stated, without addressing the core concerns regarding work permits, wage disparity, and the use of foreign contracts.
However, SA Trucker’s findings strongly suggest labour brokerage-like conduct, especially in the outsourcing of drivers from Africa Fleet Services Zimbabwe, which the NBCRFLI confirms is not under its jurisdiction.
NBCRFLI: Afbuy Uses Zimbabwe Drivers via RP Africa
The NBCRFLI further confirmed that Afbuy, one of the companies named, only lists two warehouse staff on its payroll. Its drivers, the council said, are “sourced from RP Africa Fleet Zimbabwe” – suggesting a structured bypass of South African labour registration and compliance.
A Call for Accountability
This case reveals a smartly engineered but deeply problematic labour system where foreign drivers are recruited in South Africa, paid under foreign benchmarks, and employed without the protections of South African labour law.
These are South African jobs performed on South African soil, using South African-registered trucks – yet the workers are paid Zimbabwean wages and hidden behind cross-border paperwork.
While the companies involved deny wrongdoing, the practice – as described by multiple drivers and partially confirmed by the NBCRFLI – raises urgent ethical and legal questions. It may also undermine local job opportunities and wage protections.
As South Africa works to tighten its labour migration policy, the Department of Employment and Labour, Home Affairs, and NBCRFLI may need to scrutinise this practice more closely.
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