Ministerial team tackles challenges facing SA truck drivers
"Employers must desist from employing foreign nationals in exchange of employing South Africans."
CHALLENGES facing South African truck drivers were the topic under discussion last week, when Minister of Transport Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Siyabonga Cwele, and Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, met with the representatives of SATAWU, the National Bargaining Council (Freight), the All Truck Drivers Foundation and the National Truck Drivers Foundation in Durban.
Among the issues raised by the drivers, was the fraudulent abuse of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit and the selling of driver’s licenses on the black market by foreign drivers and by some South African individuals and companies.
The Ministers also raised concerns that some of the implicated companies employed people on visitor’s visas, which is in contravention of the Immigration Act.
In terms of the law, employers are required to ascertain the status of the foreign nationals they intend to appoint before employing them.
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“Employers must therefore desist from employing foreign nationals in exchange of employing South Africans. Through our law enforcement operations, we will continue to arrest individuals and companies who continue to exploit South African laws, particularly section 8 of the Employment Services Act of 2014. As government, we appeal to employers to act in a responsible manner in handling labour matters and follow necessary labour prescripts,” emphasised Nzimande.
The Minister said that those found to be sabotaging the economy of the country will be incarcerated.
He said government would continue to strengthen the process of validation and verification of immigration, visa documents, work permits and foreign drivers licenses. In relation to driving licenses, a reciprocal treatment will also be implemented.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) and Public and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (PAWUSA) who serve in the Bargaining Council accepted the recommendations of the Ministerial Task Team and called on all associations representing workers to meet as labour to discuss the manner of engagements going forward.
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