A series of truck attacks last week is affecting South Africa’s citrus industry. It is now facing skyrocketing transport costs. There's also a possibility of the United States not extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which is bad news for thousands of people and their livelihoods.
South Africa’s citrus industry is concerned that as the industry approaches the peak of citrus deliveries to the ports. The SANDF has been deployed to protect road users and police are making headway with arrests. To date, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the attacks. However, details about the motive behind the arson remain unclear.
According to Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers Association (CGA), they are concerned by the recent wave of attacks on trucks and truck drivers: “What this economic sabotage does, is increase the cost of transport through higher insurance premiums, additional security measures, and replacement of vandalised equipment.”
There are about 2,200 trucks on the road per week transporting citrus from the northern regions, with a further 1,200 in the Eastern Cape, and 1,000 in the Western and Northern Cape.
Source: foodformzansi.co.za