Zikalala: Foreign nationals driving SA trucks ‘must be appropriately licensed’

Zikalala was speaking at a media briefing on Sunday.

“Every foreign national who is currently driving a South African registered truck, must be appropriately licensed and hold a valid permit issued by the Department of Home Affairs.”

Last week at least 20 trucks were torched on the country’s roads amid anger in some quarters over the hiring of foreign nationals to drive local trucks.

The attacks on trucks and their drivers have since claimed the life of a 45-year-old man from Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal. 

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Zikalala says that he hopes that Friday’s meeting between the different stakeholders in the sector will yield some positive results. 

“On Friday, we held an emergency meeting with key stakeholders in the trucking sector as part of efforts to bring stability to the critical sector of our economy. 

“In principle we agreed that the truck operators must with immediate effect prioritise the employment of South African drivers. 

“We will soon together with the national government, mount an intensive operation along the N2, N3 and N11 route in KZN targeting drivers without proper permits.”