Agriculture advocacy organisation Agri SA has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support the South African Police Service in protecting trucks on major transportation routes in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. 

AgriSA said on July 12 that it was “deeply concerned” about the violent criminal attacks on trucks in those provinces that have taken place over the past few days, calling them a direct assault on the South African economy and a significant risk to food security.  

Ramaphosa has also referred to the attacks as “economic sabotage”. 

About 20 trucks had been attacked and set alight between July 8 and 12. 

“In its dire economic situation, South Africa simply cannot afford to surrender vital export revenue to uncontrolled criminal activity,” Agri SA said. 

The organisation also called for crime Intelligence to be tasked with investigating who is behind the attacks and to apprehend the culprits, charge them and bring them to book. 

“Urgency is necessary to protect our truck drivers from acts of violence, but also to safeguard the valuable cargo they transport, which includes agricultural goods,” Agri SA said, calling for protection along all routes that connect export harbours to main markets. 

The organisation warned that such rampant criminality along the nation’s highways would further deter international investment. Apart from the costs incurred from the destruction of the trucks, the situation would also create additional financial burdens on already cash-strapped producers who would now be forced to pay for more security and higher insurance premiums. Moreover, it is often producers who must pay penalties because of shipping delays. 

Intervention is particularly important for the agricultural sector, Agri SA said. First-quarter data shows that South Africa’s agricultural exports reached $2.9-billion, while agricultural imports amounted to $1.7-billion. This net trade surplus of $1.2-billion, up 9% year-on-year, forms a significant contribution to the South African economy.  

“Farmers are already dealing with a general logistics crisis caused by a failing rail network, decaying rural roads, and congested ports. Violence on our county’s highways adds another level of insecurity, further hampering economic growth,” Agri SA said. 

Following the civil unrest of 2021, Agri SA said it remains mindful of the impact that any disruption to transportation can have on access to food across the country. For this reason, the organisation said that it is essential for government to guarantee the unhindered movement of goods and to counter any attempts at economic sabotage. 

“For the sake of vital livelihoods in the agricultural sector, food security across the country, and the safety of the country’s truck drivers, we hope to see immediate action from the President on this critical situation,” Agri SA said. 

Organisations such as the Road Freight Association have also warned of the economic impact of the truck attacks.