South Africa’s law enforcement agencies will be on high alert ahead of a planned national truck strike on Sunday, 30 April 2023.
National truck strike: SAPS ready to keep the roads clear on Sunday
In a statement, SAPS’ National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) confirmed all resources have been mobilised to prevent and combat any lawlessness during a planned truck driver protest on Sunday, 30 April 2023.
According to police, law enforcement officers have already been deployed and are on high alert to prevent any form of criminal activity.
Private security companies have also been reeled in to combat criminality and the SAPS’s E2 (Eyes and Ears) project will provide extra manpower to help prevent any violence that may erupt.
“The NATJOINTS assures the nation that no lawlessness in the form of barricading of roads, torching of trucks and looting of goods from those operating will be tolerated. The NATJOINTS is calling on those who are partaking in the protest to do so peacefully and respect those who do not wish to partake in the strike,” the statement read.
As reported by Business Tech, the truck strike, spearheaded by the All Truck Drivers Forum (ATDF) will take place in various parts of the country. However, a concerted effort will be made to disrupt traffic on major roads crucial to the country’s supply chain.
The objective, ATDF’s Mandla Mngomezulu said, was to send a stern message to the freight industry about the consequences of failing to act on reducing the number of foreign truck drivers and increasing investment in local labour.
“Whether it is a weekend or not, the fact is trucks move goods across the country all the time, and therefore the impact of our action will be felt,” Mngomezulu said.
While the national truck strike is deemed legal, NATJOINTS warned that any person found inciting violence or breaking the law will be dealt with immediately.
“Those who are found to be on the wrong side of the law are warned that law enforcement officers will not hesitate to respond accordingly within the ambit of the law,” the police warned.