Truck drivers forum confirms planned national shutdown temporarily suspended
Truckers are accusing the Department of Labour of ignoring unfair labour practices in the freight industry, including the hiring of foreign nationals.
Trucks on the N2 highway in KwaZulu-Natal. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) has confirmed that a planned national shutdown is temporarily suspended.
Massive traffic disruptions were expected on Monday morning, after the forum threatened to take over major routes.
The organisation accused the Department of Labour of ignoring unfair labour practices in the freight industry, including the hiring of foreign nationals.
ATDF-ASA national secretary Gugu Sokhela said they decided to suspend the shutdown following a meeting with the department.
“We have had some commitments from those two departments, which is Home Affairs and the Department of Labour. There is a plan from today [Monday] that will be put into place, so we have temporarily suspended.”
However, the chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure - Tebello Mosikili - said police would remain on high alert to prevent any disruptions.
“Law enforcement agencies are on high alert to ensure there are no criminal activities and that law-abiding citizens are not inconvenienced in any way. We call on the road freight industry workers to communicate their grievances within the confines of the law.”
OPERATIONAL PLANS IN PLACE FOR ANY DISRUPTIONS UNTIL VOTING DAY
NATJOINTS said there are operational plans in place to deal with any disruptions between now and voting day.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday, Mosikili assured South Africans that the elections will run smoothly.
"We will continue to work closely with key role players to monitor developments and attend to them. Law enforcement agencies are on the ground and will continue to apply fundamental policing principles, guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa."
Mosikili said normal crime prevention operations would not be impacted.
"We all know that we adopted in May 2023 what we call Operation Shanela. Those operations are continuing even during this period to ensure that crime prevention in our areas continues without any disturbance."