Truck strike stand-off closes John Ross highway
'Those of us who do not want to join the strike are in the minority and, for our own safety, we have to do what they say.'
JOB scarcity and foreigners taking jobs were the driving forces behind Sunday’s blockage of the John Ross Parkway by striking truck drivers.
At about 9.30am, truck drivers began blocking the Alton intersection on the John Ross, eventually leading to authorities having to close that section of the road and divert traffic elsewhere.
Entry to and exit from the Port of Richards Bay, and the route into Alton, were affected during the illegal strike which lasted three hours.
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Traffic police, as well as all SAPS services, including K9 and Flying Squad units, attended to the scene and ensured the protest remained peaceful.
Two truck drivers who distanced themselves from the strikers and spoke to Bay Watch Eyethu under condition of anonymity said they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
‘I was on my way to the depot in Alton when I was stopped by the striking drivers.
‘I was forced to switch off my truck’s engine and get out. They threatened to burn my truck if I ignored them.’
This driver did not join the crowd of about 50 drivers who willingly participated in the strike, but waited on the sidelines until they were able to go on their way.
PHOTOS: Tamlyn Jolly
‘Those of us who do not want to join the strike are in the minority by far and, for our own safety, we have to do what they say.
‘Work is scarce and too many jobs are being given to foreign truck drivers over the many South Africans in need of work,’ said Petros Cebekhulu, a representative of the Truck Drivers’ Commission which organised the protest, hoping to gain the attention of the Department of Transport.
In a letter addressed to the authorities, the commission said that foreigners are deliberately being given preference over South African residents owing to higher profits gained by trucking companies which pay foreign workers lower wages than South Africans.
‘We have taken our grievances to the relevant departments, including Labour, Home Affairs, Transport and even bargaining councils, but to no avail,’ said Cebekhulu.
‘We are tired of being sidelined and this matter needs to be dealt with at government level.’
Shortly after midday, when the protesters were showing no signs of dispersing, police officers gave them five minutes to leave the scene.
More than five minutes later, police ordered the protesters to disperse and, following a short stand-off, the truck drivers moved to their vehicles and cleared the scene under guidance of heavily armed police officers.
No arrests were made.
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