Emerging truck owners demand transformation in logistics sector

Black truck owners took to the streets of Pretoria on Monday demanding that the government regulate an allegedly highly monopolised truck business industry. More than 280 truck owners, who are members of the Truck Association of South Africa (Tasa), and their employees marched from the old Putco bus depot in Marabastad to the Department of Transport’s offices in the city centre where they handed over their letter of demands. “We are calling on the department to regulate this industry so that it can be transformed,” said Tasa president Mary Phadi. She said that emerging truck owners were marginalised by a handful of powerful companies.

“Research reveals that emerging truckers receive only about R10-billion out of R580-billion generated in the sector.” She claimed that these top companies, some of which have been in the industry for more than 40 years, systematically prevent emerging businesses from receiving a fair share in the logistics sector. ALSO READ: North artist inspired to teach young ones “Regulating this industry will stop the monopoly and give emerging truck owners and other South Africans opportunities to participate in the country’s economy and have a fair share of its wealth.”

She also accused some big companies of fronting with underprivileged black people to acquire business deals. Mpumalanga representative for black-owned truck businesses Nqobile Mkhabela said women should take up their rightful space in the industry. “This industry has been dominated by white-owned companies and if we don’t fight these companies, they will continue to front with black-owned companies.”

Gauteng representative for black-owned truck business Victory Manamela agreed that the regulation of the truck industry was a matter of urgency. “We know that white-owned companies are using BBBEE status to get jobs. After acquiring these jobs, they have the pie and give us the crumbs,” Manamela said. “We are saying we are tired of the crumbs. No more shall we work for peanuts.” ALSO READ: Brandspan veg om familie-huis te red Tasa gave the Department of Transport 21 days to respond to their letter of demands. They warned that a “fully blown” protest, which would bring the entire country to a standstill, would follow should the department fail to meet the deadline.

Transport department spokesperson Ayanda Paine said they appreciated that the marchers raised their concerns and grievances in a peaceful manner. “They have not looted properties, they have not damaged infrastructure, they have not vandalised any property to get our attention but they did as any active citizen should do.” She said that the protesters’ grievances had been heard and would be processed by her department as well as other related departments. “Some of the issues raised were labour-related matters, others were matters of small business and others alluded to trade and industry. “We feel that some of the issues raised here today are valid and they must be processed by other departments so that a consolidated response and approach can be made.” Transport department deputy-director general for roads Chris Hlabisa said they would do “everything that is humanly possible” to address concerns within the 21-day time frame. He, however, highlighted that Covid-19 had brought some uncertainties they had no control over and could cause some unprecedented delay to the response. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram