Trucking industry raises concerns over ZEP extension

JOHANNESBURG - The Road Freight Association fears that government extending the validity of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits could lead to disruptions and violence in the sector.

The ZEP deadline has been moved to December this year, instead of the end of June, as previously announced.

CEO, Gavin Kelly says the sector cannot afford a repeat of the road chaos caused by scorned local drivers, which we have seen in recent years.

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"What we have seen in the last couple of years, over the last five or so years, is that there is a group in South Africa who has been very clear about the employment of foreigners in the truck sector and the logistics sector, particularly the sector we work in," he said.

"And you will recall that there have been many, many social media reports and it's been all over television and radio their call for the ZEP to be cancelled because they feel that Zimbabwean drivers, in this case, are using the ZEP then get employment in South Africa and that South African companies then choose to use Zimbabweans over South Africans."