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MUSINA – Foreign and South African truck drivers have expressed concern about attacks in the industry.
At the Beitbridge border post, those leaving the country say they are relieved to be safe, unlike some of their colleagues who were not so lucky.
READ: Truck Attacks: Ministers Say Crime Must Stop
eNCA spent the day at the Zimbabwe-South Africa border post to get the perspective of the boots on the ground.
Many drivers refused to speak on camera, fearing for their lives.
ENCA reporter Lindokuhle Xulu spoke to a driver who agreed to an interview if his identity was protected.
He said the attacks are more than a labor issue. He says the reason foreign drivers get jobs is that local drivers turn down assignments in the SADC region.
He says they just want to drive locally and be with their families, while foreign drivers are more prepared to make sacrifices.
READ: Truck attacks: more than 20 people arrested
As the drivers leave South Africa, they say they are not out of the woods yet.
One of them said that to avoid being attacked, they are often asked to prove their nationality.
On the other hand, a South African driver, returning from Zimbabwe, said he fears for his life when he is out of the country.
While he condemns the acts of violence, he said the reason behind them is because of a failed labor system that favors the highest bidders.
A designated ministerial task force is ready to present its intervention plan soon.
* See the full interview above
