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Truck drivers raise concerns about employment and working conditions at safety symposium

Truck drivers raise concerns about employment and working conditions at safety symposium

IOL News11-05-2025
South Africa's truck drivers gathered for the two-day truck driver's symposium held at the Birchwood Hotel on Thursday where they discussed various issues and challenges affecting the industry.
The hiring of foreign nationals instead of South Africans, burning of trucks and working long hours for minimal pay were some of the issues that were highlighted by various truck drivers who gathered at the Birchwood Hotel for the Truck Drivers Safety Symposium which took place on Thursday and Friday.
Vusi Bhengu who represents the All-Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) urged government to implement stricter regulations to ensure local truck drivers are prioritised by the South African trucking industry.
"Our challenges in this industry are many and one of them is them is that we are pushed and forced to work long hours for minimal pay which leads to fatigue and accidents on the roads. Another big problem which recently led to the torching of trucks across the country, is the employment of foreigners at the expense of local truck drivers," said Bhengu.
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