’Stop attacking trucks’
TARGETED: Trucks. Picture: Brendan Magaar African News Agency (ANA)
President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the “mindless and bloody lawlessness” of attacks on trucks over the past two weeks.
This follows violent incidents in various parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The latest was the torching of two trucks outside Daveyton on the East Rand.
The president’s outburst came after the Road Freight Association called for his urgent intervention to prevent more attacks.
The association’s CEO, Gavin Kelly, said that the attacks were a threat to economic recovery.
Kelly said that the attacks appeared to be directed at foreigners.
Police have confirmed that a KwaZulu-Natal truck driver was murdered in Gauteng on Monday night.
They are now searching for the killers of the 45-year-old man from Pinetown, who was shot and partially burnt.
His body was found in a field in Alberton, not far from where the truck he was driving was set alight.
Ramaphosa commended the police work that has led to arrests in Gauteng in the past 24 hours.
He offered his condolences to the families and colleagues of drivers who have lost their lives through intimidation and violence.
Ramaphosa was also deeply concerned about the effect of the violence on owners and employees of the affected trucking companies, as well as the disruption caused by these acts just as the country is focused on rebuilding the economy.
“As South Africans, we cannot possibly tolerate the mindless and bloody lawlessness with which the road freight industry is being targeted. We cannot tolerate this loss of life and destruction of property,” he said.
Ramaphosa instructed the Ministers of Employment and Labour, Transport, Home Affairs and Police to submit a report on the matter.