The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Kenneth Mmoiemang, has condemned the burning of trucks in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal recently in the strongest terms.

Mr Mmoiemang, said allegations of shooting of trucks was particularly of concern and extremely dangerous. He said this is not the South African approach particularly in dealing with work related problems. “We are calling on whoever is behind this act of mayhem to stop it and we are appealing on the police to act with speed in curbing it and apprehending its perpetrators,” said Mr Mmoiemang.

Mr Mmoiemang said the committee supported President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to establish a team of dedicated men and women that will investigate this economic sabotage. He added that these acts of violence went against the spirit of the African Continental Free Trade Area that exists for, among other things, promotion of inter-trade relations among regional players.

“If it is competition in the trucking industry that people are concerned about, they must come out clearly so that matters are attended to in a responsible manner by all the SADC regional players, that will satisfy all involved in the industry.” He added that vandalism of property will not only impact negatively on the South African economy, but will also delegitimatize genuine grievances if they exist.

Five trucks were burnt on the weekend in Mpumalanga by a suspected organised syndicate, a number which has reportedly rose to about 15 incidents up to now.
Mr Mmoiemang said: “By virtue of our geographic location, it is normal that neighbouring countries would look to access our ports. This advantage should not be a source of quarrel but something to be celebrated by identifying areas of benefit for locals in the road freight logistics value chain and cross border road transport.”

He cautioned against any action frustrating economic activity especially for a recovering economy. “We need all the help we could get, and all the revenue we could generate from the trucking industry,” he added.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure, Kenneth Mmoiemang