Patriotic Alliance calls for all truck drivers to be locals only

By: ANG Reporter 

In a statement on Tuesday, the Patriotic Alliance’s deputy president, Kenny Kunene, said his party was standing with local truck drivers, who are aggrieved that foreigners continue to be hired over them.

Protesting truckers had earlier blocked off a section of the N3 between Warden and Villiers in the Free State. There have been similar protests in the past, especially focused on the Mooi River toll plaza on the N3, a crucial logistics artery for Gauteng from KZN.

Kunene said that, as much as the shutting down of highways was frustrating for motorists whenever the issue of truck driver employment came up, one could not ignore the “valid concerns of our local truck drivers”.

“It is simply a fact that they are being overlooked in their numbers in favour of foreign drivers, who are willing to be paid dreadful wages and work in abusive conditions that trucking companies exploit.

“The PA stands by its policy position that when a South African has the skills to do a job, especially as is the case in the trucking sector, then South Africans must be prioritised over foreigners. Our unemployment levels are catastrophic and it is immoral of us as a country to keep providing employment to people who do not have South African mouths to feed.”

Kunene said the PA was not in favour of violence and the burning of trucks and other vehicles, but the party’s view was that this issue would be best addressed “by dealing with the underlying cause”.

“The state, therefore, needs to urgently pass laws to protect the employment of locals in numerous key employment sectors, including in logistics. In a PA-led government, this is precisely how this matter will be addressed, and we are confident it can be done within the framework of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Ultimately, our greatest responsibility must be towards our own citizens.

“The PA, therefore, stands with organisations such as the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa, who are placing the grievances of local truck drivers on the agenda.”