Durban – The torching of six haulage trucks along the N3 at the Van Reenen’s Pass early Sunday morning has been described as “a coordinated attack on the road freight sector”.
Reports from the scene are that a gang of armed men forced six trucks to stop at the Van Reenen’s Pass during the night.
They then set all the trucks alight, causing the road to be closed.
None of the drivers and crew reported any injuries.
The Road Freight Association (RFA) said it, “cannot accept the scenes that played out on the N3 in the early hours of 9 July 2023 as anything else but a coordinated attack on the road freight sector”.
The RFA added: “Both the specific spot on the N3, as well as the timing, were chosen to cause the best outcome in terms of mayhem and disruption.
“The targeted precision of the attack is worrying. This was well planned and efficiently implemented.”
The road freight sector (trucks) carries 80% of the goods that are moved in and around South Africa, as well as for those countries that trade with international markets and use South African ports for import and export.
“Those who attack the road leg of logistics supply chains need to understand that the long-term effects will bring greater destruction to employment levels, and will result in further job losses, as businesses and supporting sectors shrink and trade moves away from South Africa,” warned the RFA.
“However, the more important questions to be answered are: Who is behind this attack, and why?
“There was no looting of vehicles (therefore not cargo theft in intent), and thankfully none of the drivers or staff on the vehicles were injured or killed.”
The RFA said at this point, no group has acknowledged that they are responsible.
“If this is the same grouping that has been behind such attacks across the country over the past six years, then action needs to be taken against those who promote, plan and implement such criminal actions,” the RFA said.
“We have heard the Minister of Police refer to economic sabotage and many other forms of description, but it would seem that this behaviour continues unabated.”
The RFA said, “if this is, indeed, the work of the All Truck Drivers Foundation and its counterparts relating to the employment of illegal foreigners in the road freight (or any other) sector”, relevant authorities must take the necessary action.
The responsible Department of Employment and Labour, and its inspection structures, must ensure that their responsibility to protect employees and employers from non-compliant labour practices is strictly and swiftly applied, the RFA said.
The motive for the attack is unknown.
A large number of police officers and emergency responders were still on the scene midmorning on Sunday.
