KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala has on behalf of the Provincial Government appealed for calm and peaceful resolution of all concerns facing the truck drivers and the road freight industry.

The Provincial Government today noted the protest action by the truck drivers and the subsequent ultimatum that “no truck with a South African registration should enter the harbour or driven by a foreign national from the 1st of December 2020”

The Provincial Government has escalated the matter to national government as this is not only a KwaZulu-Natal matter only, but it has implications for the entire SADEC region. The Department of Labour and Home Affairs are currently involve in a process of developing a legislation that will address the issue of the employment of foreign national is all sectors of the economy including the road freight sector.

The Premier has instructed the task team assigned the responsibility of addressing the challenges in the road freight sector to immediately meet with the representatives of the concerned truck drivers.

KZN is the only province that has established a task team which is engaging with all stakeholders that are involved which include the truck operators (owners of trucks) truck drive representatives (National Truck Drivers Founders and All truck drivers foundation)

The Provincial Government is committed to the transformation and stabilization of the road freight and logistics industry which is and critical sector of the provincial and national economy.

“We will continue to engage all the relevant role players and work within the law to negotiate solutions meant to resolve current conflict, and in the long-term stabilize the industry within the ambit of the country’s Constitution. We must however reiterate that we will not allow lawlessness to threaten our economy, more so as we emerge from the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We thus call on those who have grievances to work with us and not to shut down our roads, torch trucks or even resort to attacking truck drivers as has happened before. Where these violations take place we expect the justice crime prevention and security cluster of government to respond decisively to maintain peace and order by dealing with criminality and unlawful activities in the province,” said Premier Zikalala.

Issued by KZN Provincial Government

For more information contact: Lennox Mabaso

Spokesperson: KZN Provincial Government

Mobile: 082 884 2403

Or Thami Ngidi on +27 663066793