The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) says the attacks on trucks may have been avoided if companies abided by labour laws. At least 21 trucks have been attacked and torched in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, in recent days.
The union’s spokesperson, Amanda Tshemese says one of reasons behind the arson attacks is the fact that some companies have hired 100% foreign nationals, which is angering locals. She says this is a factor that has been raised in the past, which has not been dealt with, and that South Africans must be prioritised:
“That angers South Africans. We have been addressing this matter with Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi for years now, but he’s not doing anything. We’ve been saying to him: “Minister, let us visit these road freight companies to ensure that South Africans are prioritised with these jobs.” Maybe this could have been avoided had he worked with us, to ensure these companies comply with labour laws,” says Tshemese.
Police minister Bheki Cele held a media briefing yesterday to address the spate of attacks. He revealed that 12 people have been identified as persons of interest, and that police were looking at a number of possibilities that might explain what’s been happening.
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At the same time, National Police commissioner Fannie Masemola added that the SANDF, and other law enforcement entities, have been deployed to hot spot areas across the nation.
