Police Brace for Possible Truck Violence in Gqeberha as Tensions Rise

Truck drivers in Gqeberha are facing a tense Friday after threats surfaced warning companies not to operate their fleets or risk having them stopped and burned. Eastern Cape police have confirmed they are on high alert, vowing to protect roads, motorists, and businesses in the Nelson Mandela Bay area.

The source of the tension

Police say the threats appear to be linked to frustrations around the employment of foreign truck drivers. For years, this has been a flashpoint issue in South Africa’s logistics sector, where competition for jobs collides with rising unemployment and simmering xenophobia.

Captain André Beetge, a provincial police spokesperson, confirmed that trucking companies reported receiving intimidation messages earlier this week. According to the allegations, the messages warned that trucks on the roads Friday would be targeted.

Strong words from SAPS leadership

Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Major General Vuyisile Ncata, has condemned the threats, insisting that law and order will prevail.

“We cannot allow law-abiding communities and businesses to be intimidated in this way,” Ncata said. He warned that police and security partners would be deployed to prevent any potential flare-ups and to ensure the safety of all road users.

Ncata urged companies not to stay silent but to report threats directly to police. “Businesses that have been threatened must open intimidation cases,” he said. “And perpetrators must understand there are legal ways to address grievances. Violence will not be tolerated.”

A wider pattern of unrest

The threats in Gqeberha come as other parts of the country face transport-related disruptions. In Durban, commuters were stranded earlier this week when taxi operators launched a strike over the impounding of minibus taxis. Although the strike was called off after talks with authorities, the episode highlighted how fragile South Africa’s transport networks remain.

For many South Africans, these recurring disruptions feel like déjà vu. Social media reaction has been swift, with users expressing frustration that road violence and strikes have become a recurring theme in the country’s transport sector. “First taxis, now trucks who can we rely on to get to work safely?” one user asked on X (formerly Twitter).

What’s at stake in Gqeberha

Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, is one of South Africa’s most important transport and logistics hubs. The port city handles massive volumes of goods, from cars and auto parts to agricultural produce. Any unrest in this sector doesn’t just affect local businesses, it threatens supply chains across the country.

For truck drivers, many of whom are breadwinners for extended families, the looming threat of violence brings an added layer of anxiety to an already tough profession.

Police say they will maintain a visible presence to deter violence, but many residents remain wary. South Africa has seen similar incidents in the past, with trucks set alight on highways in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Whether Gqeberha’s Friday passes quietly or ends in flames may well depend on whether police visibility and community cooperation is enough to deter those intent on using intimidation to make a point.

{Source: The Citizen}

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