Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) Richards Bay has warned transporters of possible disruptions on national roads this weekend as All Truck Drivers Forum Allied South Africa embarks on a strike against the continued employment of foreign nationals.
TPT advised transporters to proceed with caution and if possible to even hold back deliveries during the weekend.
According to TPT, SAPS has advised that disruptive action is expected from ATDF-ASA and it’s affiliates on national and provincial roads this weekend, 26 to 27 Feb 2022, which will be focused on halting truck movements.
“Blockade of national roads and highways, most likely using highjacked trucks, will likely take place in order to intensify the pressure on government to address their grievance with the use of foreign truck drivers by South African trucking companies,” TPT Richards Bay Key Accounts Manager, Nokwanda Ndlela said.
The N3 and N2 are historically targeted and there may also be disruptive actions at the Durban and Richards Bay ports.
Contingency measures have been implemented by the various security clusters. This includes
continuous vehicle patrols and high visibility on our roads by law enforcement officers.
Ndlela advised clients making use of road transport for the transportation of commodities to the Port of Richards Bay to plan wisely ahead of the ATDF-ASA strike.
“We want the whole freight industry to have zero percent of foreign nationals, and it is a common fact that we have hundreds of local truck drivers who are unemployed just because the foreign nationals have occupied those positions.”
“The government is not working for us and the only thing that they keep on making are empty promises. On Sunday, drivers will park their trucks either at the depot or at the truck stop for the rest of the day,” said ATDF-ASA secretary-general Sfiso Nyathi.
