KZN Department of Transport clamps down on errant truck drivers

Fifteen foreign nationals have been arrested following a sting operation at the Umkhondeni Weighbridge at Pietermaritzburg.

Under the banner of #NenzaniLaEzweni, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements, MEC Siboniso Duma, said of those arrested a Zimbabwean was arrested after he was caught driving while drunk. 

Five other foreign nationals were arrested for being in the country illegally and producing fraudulent documents.

The operation had more than 98 trucks stopped for inspection, and 47 truck drivers interviewed in an effort to minimise accidents and drivers who have no permits to drive on the road.

Duma has confirmed that they are now in partnership with several stakeholders, including the police K9 unit and highway patrol, the Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration Unit, Umsunduzi Municipality Traffic and the Cross Border Road Transport Agency to curb the number of truck-related road crashes. 

Focus is now on the owners of the freight companies that hire the undocumented foreign nationals.

“We are now turning our attention to the owners of these companies in the freight and logistics sector. I have mandated RTI to arrest them for employing undocumented drivers who are turning our road networks into killing fields,” said Duma.

He further stated that the department’s approach has shifted from “reactive enforcement” to strategic intelligence-driven operations, which aim to tear down criminal networks within the logistics chain.

“We are combating the movement of undeclared and illicit goods from our road networks. Importantly, we are targeting and impounding trucks without permits and arresting the owners of the companies behind them,” said Duma.

IOL