The Port of Richards Bay was the scene of a peaceful, albeit illegal, protest against the employment of undocumented foreign truck drivers on Thursday morning as protesters pulled over several truck drivers before the police intervened.
According to an unconfirmed notice shared via WhatsApp, security for Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) noted that at around 7.50am “there were approximately 12 people standing at the Bayview Bridge robot stopping trucks” and that the police had been called to the scene.
“TNPA security and the South African Police Service (Saps) were activated.
“Upon arrival at the scene, Saps spoke to Shozi, who was identified as the leader of ATDF on site,” the notice said.
However, the secretary for the All Truck Drivers’ Forum (ATDF), Sifiso Nyathi, said the organisation had nothing to do with the protest and that it appeared that unemployed people were using the name, although they had no affiliation to the forum.
Nyathi said the ATDF would oppose the hiring of illegal immigrants via formal, legal channels.
“Shozi stated that they are stopping trucks and checking for foreign drivers who do not have working permits and licences.”
Saps advised them of their wrongful actions and asked them to stop. In the process three foreign drivers were stopped and found not to be in possession of working permits, according to the security notice.
“Immigration was called and the drivers were detained and taken to be charged.
The scene was declared safe and free from any incidents.
“Port operations were not affected,” the notice confirmed.
Saps spokesperson for Richards Bay, Debbie Ferreira, said that the police had responded to the scene of the protest.
Nyathi distanced ATDF from the protest action.
He said that the forum was working through the official channels of the offices of Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula, KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Peggy Nkonyeni, and KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala, and speaking to the business sector directly to address truck drivers’ concerns.
He said the ATDF was busy compiling a document highlighting truck drivers’ concerns regarding the illegal hiring of foreign drivers that would be submitted to Mbalula for consideration in the government’s drafting of its policy regarding foreign workers.
He said the policy was expected to be ready in about six months’ time.
“There is gambling and there is investing. You can’t invest in the South African economy if you are not employing South Africans,” he said.
Attempts to obtain information from TNPA were unsuccessful.
