SA Parly condemns attacks on foreign truck drivers

ZTN Correspondent

SOUTH Africa’s Parliament has called for an immediate solution to the ongoing attacks on foreign truck drivers in the country.

More than 200 people, mostly foreign truck drivers, have been attacked and killed by assailants on South African roads since March 2018, according to the Road Freight Association.

In recent days South Africa has been rocked by violence targeting foreign truck drivers and businesses.

Chairperson of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, Mandla Rayi, condemned the attacks.

“This is not only a crime against truck drivers, but also against the economy, at a time when faster and rapid growth is required. It is critical that law enforcement work hard to find the culprits and act accordingly to stop this thuggish behaviour,” Rayi said.

Rayi said attacks motivated by xenophobia will not be tolerated and if xenophobia is a motivating factor, then the perpetrators should be exposed.

“The focus should now be on growing the economy through promoting regional and continental trade. Small and medium enterprises should be at the centre of such efforts, through trading between regions, provinces and neighbouring countries. The burning of trucks is unacceptable,” he said.

Meanwhile The International Cross-Border Traders Association (Icta) is calling on the South African government to intervene.

Icta president Denis Juru, said he was worried about the ongoing attacks on foreign nationals.