Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, and Public Works and Infrastructure, chairperson Kenneth Mmoiemang, has strongly condemned the burning of trucks in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal and has cautioned against any action that frustrates economic activity.

Fifteen incidents related to the vandalism of property were reported in Mpumalanga, including the burning of five trucks, over the weekend, allegedly by an organised syndicate.

In particular, Mmoiemang noted the shooting of trucks as extremely dangerous and as a matter of grave concern. He has also suggested that the perpetrators of these incidents find better ways of dealing with their work-related problems.

Mmoiemang has also highlighted the committee’s support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to actively investigate economic sabotage, and suggested that these acts of violence went against the ethos of the African Continental Free Trade Area, namely the promotion of inter-trade relations among regions.

“If it is competition in the trucking industry that people are concerned about, they must come out clearly so that matters are attended to in a responsible manner by all the SADC [Southern African Development Community] regional players, that will satisfy all involved in the industry,” Mmoiemang said.

He added that the destruction of property would have a negative effect on the South African economy and serve to delegitimise any genuine grievances.

“By virtue of our geographic location, it is normal that neighbouring countries would look to access our ports. This advantage should not be a source of quarrel but something to be celebrated by identifying areas of benefit for locals in the road freight logistics value chain and cross-border road transport,” he said.

Mmoiemang urged the police to speedily deal with those responsible.