‘Without trucks, South Africa stops’

The pursuing open up letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa was penned by Highway Freight Association CEO Gavin Kelly on 16 June 2022.

Mr President

The total logistics supply chain is less than assault. All over again. All important routes are being targeted.

Road freight organizations (transporters) locate themselves remaining targeted, attacked and being prevented from plying their business by forces underneath the pretext of overseas nationals “taking jobs absent from citizens”.

This results in harmed and fully ruined lives, organizations, employment possibilities, financial exercise, merchandise, motor vehicles, amenities, roads and foreign investment to shift products through South Africa into Africa.

The action discriminates towards these organizations who comply with all the legislated specifications, or even come from international nations – whilst our calls for motion in opposition to those people corporations who continue on to break the laws, make use of foreigners with no the appropriate authorisations and refuse to sign up or post to the inspections finished by the Department of Employment and Labour [are unheeded and they] go on to operate and produce the place we, as a country, uncover ourselves in.

The N3 has been blocked for extra than 24 hrs. There are more than 350 vans blocked on either direction of the N3 (this variety regularly developing by the hour). Our motorists (and other staff on the vans) are exposed to serious cold, possible violent looting or other aggravated assault and do not have the means to survive for times stranded in a truck in the middle of nowhere.

The N3 route one-way links 1 of the busiest ports in Africa to many international locations that depend on a well functioning, protected and effective corridor. A lot cargo travels and traverses this route.

Other crucial routes – from Mpumalanga across the state to the Northern Cape – the N17, N11, N2, R59, R74 – the listing goes on – have seasoned identical situations and delays. This cannot continue on.

The economic influence – originally felt and carried/absorbed by all the transporters trapped on the various routes – is not only monumental (we have already lost all-around R25 million in truck functioning expenditures), but will cripple lots of of our more compact operators (88% of our associates are SMMEs), will have knock-on effects into all other marketplace sectors (from producing to retail), will outcome in penalties for late supply, broken products, agreement breach and even loss of business and therefore unemployment.

Ships will sail earlier to other ports – they will not wait for us to “get our act together”.

We will drop trade and business to and by way of South Africa. Our ports will come to be ghost cities – and the encompassing organizations relating to those people pursuits of trade and assist will near. Much more unemployment [will ensue].

When you insert up all the destruction and destructive charges into the financial state, we are well around R300 million now.

Mr President – what is this seriously about? Other than the financial sabotage and total destruction of South Africa, there is noticeable intent to prove that the management of the nation (and its financial state) now rests with gangs?

The management of the ATDF-SA [All Truck Drivers Foundation South Africa], exclusively the president of the organisation, has brazenly commented on social media that they do not treatment about the consequences of their actions and that they will proceed right up until there is adjust. Why have the different departments tasked with solving this situation (just about 5 a long time in the past now) NOT dealt with the core good reasons and dealt with these?

You and your ministers promised to protect the nation. To secure its people and to guarantee a superior daily life for all. You have broken that trust.

Act now – or we will have no nation remaining.

No dwelling.

No area to educate and expand our youngsters.

Mr President – instruct the Ministers of Police, Transportation and Defence & Navy Veterans to perform their obligations – to restore get and to listen to the proposals made by the representative, compliant transporters in the sector. The non-compliant transporters and the groupings that “represent” them have to be dealt with.

The time is now.

Close the sabotage of the region and its financial state by the ATDF-SA and their allies. Obvious the routes. Arrest these motorists complicit [in] this exercise.

Offer with the organisers of this sabotage, criminal exercise and organised crime.

Get the logistics corridors open up.

Make certain the rule of regulation and the appropriate to no cost movement and the procedure of financial exercise.

If you do not do this now, South Africa will close down. It will halt. Trade and business will go in other places.

We will need to protect every Citizen’s Constitutional right to protection, stability and the means to stay and work without having hinderance (issue to them respecting and abiding by the extremely same Constitution and the various legislative specifications of the state).

On behalf of all our citizens, the Road Freight Association asks you to instruct your Cupboard to act now. Act decisively.

Mr President – we glimpse toward your management.

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