Continued attacks on South Africa’s logistics sector have prompted the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on all major routes in the affected provinces as of Thursday, 13 July. Some 21 trucks have been torched on major routes in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo since 9 July.
Agri SA president Jaco Minnaar said about these attacks: “In addition to the threat these activities pose to lives, they are a direct assault on the South African economy and a significant risk to food security. In its dire economic situation, South Africa simply cannot afford to surrender vital export revenue to uncontrolled criminal activity.” He added that the rampant criminality on highways deterred international investment.
Road Freight Association CEO Gavin Kelly said that while there was currently no cause for concern over food security, the attacks had to be seen as a coordinated attack on the road freight sector.
Source: farmersweekly.co.za