THE torching of trucks across the country has left KZN concerned as the province is still trying to recover from the July unrest and devastating floods.
The province hasn’t been spared from this problem, which is creating more economic pressure.
Since this problem started, a total of eight trucks have been torched. Six were torched on Saturday, 8 July, at the Van Reenen and two on the N2 near Richards Bay on Monday, 10 July.
KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said estimations by the industries show that a simple calculation of capital losses of the six trucks destroyed to date amounts to anything between R18 to R60 million.
“Our Economic Recovery following the flood and the unrest is underway, and we will not be delayed or distracted from the work of rebuilding the KZN economy and all social and economic infrastructure as our province again rises to take its place as a leading strategic economic hub of the country,” said Dube-Ncube.
The premier said that the time to take stricter stands against those who express themselves by shutting down national roads to solve problems which could have been easily negotiated in a legislated process is now.
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KZN Transport MEC Sipho Hlomuka said the government believes that these incidents are part of economic sabotage and stronger interventions are needed to protect the strategic routes transporting important goods and linking various provinces.
Hlomuka has since directed structures within the KZN and Security Cluster (JCPS), including municipalities, to ensure a united response in dealing with the torching of trucks.
“These must include the deployment of technology and other resources,” said Hlomuka.
City of uMhlathuze Mayor Xolani Ngwezi appealed to all relevant stakeholders, including Transnet and truck companies, to work closely with law enforcement agencies to uncover and expose the underlying causes of such acts and incidents.
