<\/p>\n
South African freight operators are delaying deliveries, mapping alternative routes and weighing additional security before anti-migrant demonstrations scheduled for 30 June, as they seek to shield workers and cargo from possible disruptions along some of the busiest transport corridors.<\/p>\n
The contingency planning illustrates how a campaign that began with demands for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country is impacting critical industries.<\/p>\n
While the police have announced an expanded security deployment expected to cost about R600 million to prevent violence, logistics companies say uncertainty is forcing them to make operational changes.<\/p>\n
Read:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve said to our members you\u2019ve got to think about your employees and whether you can delay what you\u2019re going to do,\u201d Gavin Kelly, chief executive officer of the Road Freight Association (RFA), said in an interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf your customers are prepared to accept deliveries earlier, that\u2019s probably the best option.\u201d<\/p>\n
The month-end mass demonstrations have been called by March and March, a group that has staged weeks of mostly small-scale protests against migrants who it says are in South Africa illegally and are placing additional pressure on already stretched public services and taking jobs from locals.<\/p>\n
The authorities say violence and intimidation won\u2019t be tolerated.<\/p>\n
The police force is ready and determined to \u201censure that South Africans can go about their daily lives without fear or disruption\u201d, acting police commissioner Puleng Dimpane said in a speech at a parade in Johannesburg on Friday.<\/p>\n
\nKelly said companies are monitoring developments on an hourly basis and identifying alternative routes in case unrest spreads beyond anticipated hotspots.<\/p>\n
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The N3 and N4 freeways that are used to ferry freight to the country\u2019s main port in the eastern city of Durban have historically been focal points for trucking protests.<\/p>\n
Supply chain pressures<\/strong><\/p>\n
South Africa\u2019s supply chains were already under strain prior to March and March\u2019s campaign, with port inefficiencies, infrastructure failures, crime and sporadic disruptions on key roads all impeding the flow of goods.<\/p>\n
\nEven temporary logistics glitches can ripple through the economy, holding up mineral and other exports, manufacturing inputs and deliveries to retail outlets.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
March and March isn\u2019t the only one targeting foreigners.<\/p>\n
The All Truck Drivers Forum & Allied South Africa group is planning a coordinated slowdown on sections of the N3 to highlight longstanding grievances over the employment of foreign drivers.<\/p>\n
Forum secretary-general Gugu Sokhela said there \u201cwon\u2019t be a total stop on the national roads\u201d but the freight industry \u201cmust feel that it is not a normal day\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means the cargoes will be delayed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group, which is working alongside March and March, intends to leave one lane of the freeway open for vehicles other than trucks, with final operational details of its protest action yet to be finalised, Sokhela said.<\/p>\n
Its main grievances revolve around what it says is the inadequate enforcement of existing labour and transport regulations \u2013 it argues that truck driving isn\u2019t classified as a scarce skill and the authorities should do more to ensure employers comply with the rules that prioritise the hiring of locals.<\/p>\n
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\nThe RFA concedes that such concerns have merit.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The employer body has repeatedly argued that the government\u2019s failure to consistently enforce the law has allowed non-compliant operators to undercut registered businesses and created tensions over the employment of undocumented workers.<\/p>\n
The industry isn\u2019t taking sides in the political debate, according to Kelly, who warned that disruptions are unlikely to be confined to a single day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe mustn\u2019t convince ourselves it\u2019s only going to be on the 30th. There might be guys who start earlier than that, the day before, maybe the day after,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to identify the risks, make sure you\u2019ve got alternatives, and make sure you don\u2019t put your employees in harm\u2019s way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Air support<\/strong><\/p>\n
South African businesses will support the police with drones and helicopters.Business Against Crime South Africa (Bacsa) has activated extensive public-private support measures to assist the police ahead of the expected anti-foreigner mobilisation on 30 June, it said in a statement on Friday.<\/p>\n
Watch\/read:<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa speaks to the nation about illegal migration<\/div>\nThe support is being coordinated through E2-Plus, Bacsa\u2019s flagship public-private crime-fighting programme, it said.<\/p>\n
E2-Plus member companies have committed to support the police with helicopters, piloted drones, armed response and armoured vehicles and access to 7 000 CCTV cameras, among other measures, according to Bacsa.<\/p>\n
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\n\u201cThe scale of the mobilisation reflects the seriousness with which both the state and the private sector are approaching the situation,\u201d Bacsa CEO Anton du Plessis said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said last week the government won\u2019t allow anyone to destabilise the country. At least three people have been killed in xenophobic attacks and thousands have been displaced ahead of this week\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n
More than 4 000 migrants who have fled their homes in fear of being targeted have taken refuge in an abandoned building in a suburb of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal.<\/p>\n
Read:<\/p>\n
SA steps up migrant arrests<\/div>\nChaos in KZN as immigrants crowd reparation sites<\/div>\nThe gathering of foreign nationals is among several seen in KwaZulu-Natal and other areas over recent weeks.<\/p>\n
A convoy of 18 buses arrived at the Pietermaritzburg site on Friday to repatriate Malawians to the city of Blantyre, even as more people continued to arrive.<\/p>\n
A number of those present are in the country legitimately, but were concerned about being caught up in the violence.<\/p>\n
Messages circulating on community social media groups called for volunteers to help patrol areas where there is danger of xenophobic attacks.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a02026\u00a0Bloomberg<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
#Freight #firms #prepare #antimigrant #protests<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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