Trucking violence continues despite 20 arrests in KwaZulu-Natal

Ongoing violence within the trucking fraternity continues to spiral out of control, despite police and government efforts to address the issue.

A number of truck torching incidents throughout the country have been reported on social media after a nationwide truck protest moved into full swing on Monday. 

On Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal transport, community safety and liaison MEC Mxolisi Kaunda called for truck drivers to be patient and not embark on actions that result in the damage of property. This followed rumours about the nationwide shutdown. 

KwaZulu-Natal police said they had arrested 20 individuals who are believed to have been involved in activities relating to trucking violence.  

On Sunday, 11 suspects were arrested by Richards Bay police for public violence and obstruction of traffic after the road to Richards Bay harbour was blocked by trucks. 

The same evening, four suspects were arrested in Durban for possession of an unlicensed firearm with 15 rounds of ammunition.

On Monday, five suspects were arrested at Estcourt near the Shell Ultra City after the vehicle in which they were travelling was positively identified in an incident in which a truck was set alight.

The suspects were found in possession of a range of apparatus including unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and bottles containing petrol. 

Three trucks were damaged on Sunday and early Monday after being set on fire, shot at and stoned in the Eastern Cape. 

One of them, en route to Johannesburg from Coega, was forced to stop on the N2 at Olifantskop Pass at 3pm on Sunday. Three suspects used a silver VW Polo to block the road and set the truck on fire. The driver escaped unharmed, but the truck was severely damaged, said police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge.

TimesLIVE is in possession of a recorded telephonic conversation between a logistics company owner and an individual who claims to be from the All Truck Divers' Foundation (ATDF). 

In the recording, the ATDF representative can be heard threatening the owner of the truck, telling him he would not let his driver load because he is a foreign driver. The heated conversation goes on for nine minutes as the men continue to argue and debate. 

The issue between the ATDF, representing truck drivers, and Positive Freight Solution Forum (PFSF), representing truck owners, has been contentious over the hiring of foreign national drivers. 

The case between the two aggrieved parties was recently heard in the Pietermaritzburg high court, where PFSF sought a high court order against ATDF to stop them from harassing, threatening or assaulting truck drivers or causing damage to the trucks.

ATDF leader Sipho Zungu said he was unaware of the recording, but if the person who threatened the owner claims to be representing ATDF, he should be arrested. 

"That person needs to be traced and arrested because there is an agreement in place and we have obeyed that agreement," he said.