Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga expressed grave concern about the torching of trucks on South Africa's roads in recent days and said criminals are committing an act of economic sabotage.
“This is criminality that will not be tolerated. Our road network is the lifeblood of our economy and transports valuable cargo that keeps the wheels of our economy turning,” she said.
The ability of trucks to transport freight is an enabler of economic activity and trade with other markets, which is critical for South Africa's economy, and road freight transports more than 80% of all cargo, she noted.
“The road traffic law enforcement authorities, working under the coordination of the Road Traffic Management Corporation, continue to work closely with other law enforcement authorities to maintain maximum vigilance and to bring perpetrators to book.
“Government has also provided a platform of engagement for any party aggrieved by working conditions in the road freight industry and progress is being made in addressing the issues. The Department of Transport continues to work as part of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to address the challenges facing the sector,” she said.
“Behaviour by any party that is outside of that agreed framework will neither be condoned nor tolerated. We call upon law enforcement authorities to unleash the full might of the law in dealing with those who think they can sabotage our economy with impunity.
“We also appeal to road users and communities to work closely with law enforcement authorities and report suspicious conduct on our roads. We will not allow our roads to be used as an arena to commit crime,” Chikunga concluded.