A nationwide truck shutdown has led to two trucks in Cape Town being impounded after they blocked the way for other vehicles at the Huguenot Tunnel on Tuesday, July 7.
The National Truck Shutdown is a strike which aims to push all trucking companies in South Africa to remove foreign drivers and replace them with locals. Truck drivers are saying that these jobs should be reserved for South Africans only.
According to City of Cape Town spokesperson, Maxine Bezuidenhout, a case of obstruction will be opened against truck drivers who blocked the roadways during the strike.
Trucks were impounded along the N7 and the N1 after blocking the way for traffic this week.
Ahead of the shutdown SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said, “There will be zero tolerance to any intimidation against truck drivers as well as other road users. Law enforcement will ensure that there are no criminal activities and that the lives of law-abiding citizens are not put in danger.”
Truck Drivers to embark on a nationwide shutdown tomorrow.
A nationwide strike against all trucking companies to remove non-South African drivers and replace them with local drivers.
The say driving jobs should be reserved for South Africans only.#PutSouthAfricansFirstNow pic.twitter.com/JwXXZbdQPA
— Entrepreneur Zone (@SayEntrepreneur) July 6, 2020
A truck had also brought traffic to a halt along the N2 by parking across the road between De Beers and Victoria Road. An additional truck was reported as blocking the roadway at the intersection of Old Mamre Road and Darling in Atlantis and officers were called to the scene.
Parked trucks were also reported on the N1 in Kraaifontein near the Engen 1-stop, traffic had to be diverted.
Over the past few weeks a number of trucks in Cape Town have been burned as part of this movement. This is an ongoing problem with trucks continuing to be burned this week.
#TruckStrike Third truck for tonight in Cape Town area set alight. Strandfontein Rd. Lotus river at Caltex garage.. @BOSBEER2006 @1SecondLater @EWNTraffic @netstartraffic @SALTruckers @SAPoliceService @eNCA @MARIUSBROODRYK pic.twitter.com/OkGIQYSmlB
— BOSBEER.COM (@BOSBEER2006) July 8, 2020
#TruckStrike Truck set alight on WELTEVREDEN RD, Philippi, Cape Town… @BOSBEER2006 @1SecondLater @EWNTraffic @netstartraffic @SALTruckers @SAPoliceService @BokRadio @capetraffic @MARIUSBROODRYK pic.twitter.com/Kb5bjtXsZb
— BOSBEER.COM (@BOSBEER2006) July 8, 2020
Another truck set Alight,, all services on scene at Strand and Labelle, Belville, fire has been extinguished#1SecondTelegram #1Second #1SecondZello@BOSBEER2006 @LimaCharlie1 @cptfrs @SAPoliceService @rsa_trucker @_ArriveAlive @Abramjee pic.twitter.com/GoDpluPQC4
— 1Second (@1SecondLater) July 8, 2020
It is believed truck drivers will continue to protest until they feel their demands have been met.
Mandla Mngomezulu of the All Truck Drivers Foundation (ATDF) urged the drivers to stop the violence and confirmed that they are still refusing to work as of July 8. ATDF members have been advised to stay home for their own safety.
Picture: Pexels
