The All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) has confirmed plans to disrupt transport and logistics operations on major national routes, including the N3 and N2 in KwaZulu-Natal, this Saturday. According to the ATDF-ASA secretary, the planned shutdown stems from long-standing grievances regarding the employment of foreign nationals in the trucking industry, with the protest expected to impact the movement of goods and commuters.
Ndabe Sibiya, spokesperson for the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, addressed the department’s position on the planned action. Sibiya extended an apology on behalf of the MEC, who was unable to participate in the interview due to prior commitments, but emphasized that the MEC supports the right to peaceful protest and has previously engaged with ATDF-ASA leadership.
“We must all pull together in the same direction, and collective wisdom must always prevail,” Sibiya stated. The department is preparing for the weekend in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, maintaining that South Africans should be allowed to express themselves within the confines of the law.
Operational Preparations Underway
The department has deployed more than 2,000 Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) officers under Operation Chanela across KwaZulu-Natal’s 34,000 kilometers of road networks. These efforts are coordinated with municipal traffic police, the eThekwini Metro Police Service, and the South African Police Service (SAPS), with Lieutenant General Latham directly liaising with the MEC’s office.
Sibiya noted that the department’s approach builds on previous initiatives, including the #HlalaUphi campaign launched along the N3 corridor last year to address concerns about undocumented foreign nationals in the driving sector. Additionally, a port decongestion committee established by the provincial government in 2020 has previously examined truck driver welfare issues, highlighting the need for broader stakeholder engagement.
Addressing Core Grievances
Sibiya acknowledged that the concerns raised by truck drivers are legitimate. During previous engagements, drivers reported issues including the absence of written employment contracts, dismissal after raising workplace concerns, lack of payslips, unlawful salary deductions, and companies paying cash wages to undocumented foreign nationals. The spokesperson also referenced fatalities in the province where undocumented foreign national drivers fled accident scenes, incidents previously reported by media organizations.
“To deal with companies employing undocumented foreign nationals, we must also examine operations at our ports,” Sibiya explained, noting that freight moving through Durban’s ports requires coordination with Transnet, port operators, and terminal operators.
National Integrated Response
On the path toward resolution, Sibiya highlighted recent national developments. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development recently articulated a program of action involving multiple deputy ministers, including the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, who has been designated to lead aspects of the response. The Department of Employment and Labour is also part of this coordinated effort.
Furthermore, MEC Siboniso Duma is mobilizing a team from Human Settlements to inspect RDP houses, following reports that some undocumented foreign nationals are residing in these properties. Sibiya confirmed that a database of companies employing undocumented foreign nationals exists and that, following governmental reconfiguration, oversight of this matter has been relocated to the Premier’s Office. However, technocrats remain obligated to develop a turnaround strategy.
“The custodian of the Immigration Act is the Minister of Home Affairs at the national level,” Sibiya noted, adding that MEC Duma has expressed a commitment to visible engagement to ensure these matters are addressed promptly.
Shared Responsibility Emphasized
While assuring residents of KwaZulu-Natal that the department will not abdicate its responsibilities, Sibiya stressed that organized labor leadership must also take full responsibility for their members’ conduct during the protest. The department expressed confidence in SAPS leadership to execute safety plans with precision while upholding the right to lawful assembly.
As the province prepares for Saturday’s planned action, authorities continue to urge all parties to prioritize public safety and engage constructively toward resolving the underlying employment concerns in the trucking sector.
