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By Karen Singh 
3h ago
Durban – FOREIGN truck drivers have threatened that if forced to leave their jobs, their local counterparts will be banned from crossing their borders.
The threat of retaliation was made by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Cross-Border Drivers Association yesterday after protest action by local drivers.
The protest action came after more than 30 trucks were set on fire in provinces across the country since last week.
While it has been alleged that the arson attacks may be related to the protests, the All Truck Drivers Foundation (ATDF) has denied any involvement in the incidents.
On Monday, the ATDF issued an ultimatum for all foreign truck drivers to leave their jobs by December 1 or the companies they work for would be barred from operating.
In response to the protest and truck attacks, SADC Cross Border Drivers Association Secretary General Tatenda Mehlomakhulu said that a ban would be imposed on all South African registered trucks outside South Africa’s borders.
“We believe that the ANC government has something to do with the attacks since they can only arrest undocumented foreigners, but murderers, arsonists, rapists and terrorists are free,” he said.
South Africans would have to find other means to serve their markets outside South Africa’s borders, he said, adding that the majority of trucks in the country were owned by foreigners.
“It is convenient to register your trucks here, as it is the epicenter of the manufacturing and transit cargo industries,” Mehlomakhulu said.
He said the ATDF was violating the rights of foreign carriers by contesting the hiring of foreign nationals.
“If worst comes to worst, we as the SADC Truck Drivers Association will not allow South African registered trucks in our countries,” he said.
ATDF Secretary General Sifiso Nyathi said the union believes that the average number of foreign truck drivers employed in South Africa is over 80%, while only a few are South African.
Nyathi said the basic salary the drivers earned was R12,500 a month, based on a nine-hour daily shift.
“Drivers can earn from 20,000 to 40,000 rand and most not less than 25,000 rand.”
Nyathi alleged that, instead of the companies employing properly documented drivers, they employed three or four undocumented foreigners for the same amount it would cost to hire one person.
Economist Mike Schussler described the situation as a disaster and said it would destroy the region’s economy.
Transport, whether by land, air or sea, is by nature international and South Africa is highly dependent on road transport, he said.
Schussler warned that if South Africans killed foreign drivers, there would be consequences for local drivers in other African countries.
The Mercury
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