A 55-year-old driver died from injuries sustained when his truck was stopped and set alight on the N3 near Heidelberg, south of Johannesburg on Monday.

More than 30 trucks have been targeted and at least a dozen of them torched since the weekend.

The trucks are stopped by vehicles blocking the four-lane highway. They are then looted before being set alight.

Drivers say they fear for their lives.

The highway carries mostly local trucks.

However much of the copper and other heavy cargo coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi is also hauled along the N3.

Leader of the All Truck Drivers Forum of South Africa Mandla Mngomenzulu insists his members are not responsible.

He blames criminal elements taking advantage of the local truck drivers’ grievances.

Local driver says they have been betrayed by transport firms who employ foreigners and pay them less than unionised truckers.

The attacks have been made for at least a decade both along the N3 and on the N1 motorway between Johannesburg and Cape Town

Police have not been able control the situation.

Sometime the attacks happen as trucks wait to pass through tollgates along the motorways.

The Road Freight Association, which represents the employers, is calling for government intervention to stop what it calls a war on its trucks.

Technical operation manager of the RFA Gavin Kelly says: “Truck drivers fear for their lives. We have seen trucks being shot at as they drove past assailants waiting on the side of the road and they’re not being apprehended.

“The drivers are just having random shots fired at them. It’s not just foreign drivers being attacked, it’s also local drivers in the firing line. 

“Obviously, people don’t want to send out their drivers if there is a chance that they are going to be injured or killed,.”

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Speaking to the virtual meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia, Ramaphosa said the coronavirus pandemic has had a unprecedented  impact on health, societies and economic around the world.

“In the middle of the pandemic – even as we battle rising global infections – we must look to an inclusive  economic recovery where no country is left behind,” he said as Zambia last week found itself unable to meet interest payments on Eurobonds loans.

Africa has been hit less badly by infections than was initially feared. However African economies have borne the heaviest economic impact from the lockdown

“It was at the extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit in March this year that members committed to strengthening national, regional and global capacities to respond effectively to future pandemics,” Ramaphosa said

“As the African continent, we are playing our part, including through the establishment of a Covid-19 Response Fund to mobilise resources for a continental response and to support recovery. We also launched the African Medical Supplies Platform to ensure equitable access to medical equipment and supplies.

“We have been involved in the formation of the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator, a global network to ensure access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for all those who need it. We are pleased that there appears to be consensus in the G20 that access to an effective Covid-19 vaccine should be universal, fair and equitable” 

Ramaphosa believes a commitment by G20 leaders to invest substantially in the ACT-Accelerator’s immediate funding gap of $4.5 billion (R692bn) will immediately save lives, lay the groundwork for mass provision of Covid-19 tools around the world, and provide a way out of this global economic and human crisis, the president said.

“We look to the G20, international partners and the international financial institutions to work with African countries to rebuild their economies.”

He says the AU has proposed several measures, including debt relief in the form of interest-payment waivers and deferred payments. He urged leaders to invest in funding and research in order to prepare for a post Covid-19 future.

“We must bolster health infrastructure and health systems. We are encouraged by the continued commitment of the G20 to financing universal health coverage in developing countries. We must accelerate the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to strengthen the capacity of all countries to better withstand the impact of future crises.

“This pandemic has demonstrated the interconnectedness of our world. It is only through co-operation and solidarity that we will ensure the future health and welfare of our global community.”

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She’ll speak to Africa  ambassadors in Pretoria about it – as he predecessor Lindiwe Sisulu did five months ago.

South Africa’s High Commission in Abuja and consulate in  Lagos have been temporarily closed because they came under attack from youths angered by the xenophobic violence in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

South African diplomatic missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia have received similar treatment.

African countries are using boycott – the same tactic employed during the anti-apartheid struggle – to express their displeasure.

Nigeria has shunned the World Economic Forum hosted in Cape Town.

Madagascar follows Zambia in refusing to play a friendly fixture against Bafana Bafana.

Air Tanzania has suspended flights to South Africa.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa says attacks against foreigners are totally unacceptable.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has  sent a special envoy to his  to South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa to express concern about the xenophobic attacks.

South African businesses in Lagos have been attacked by youths in retaliation for attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Zambia’s called off a friendly football match against Bafana Bafana and urged Zambian truck drivers to avoid travelling on South African roads white foreign lorry drivers are being attacked.

Ethiopia has advised its nations in South Africa to close their  businesses during the violence and avoid wearing expensive jewellery.

AU Commission head Moussa Faki has condemned violence against foreigners in South Africa.

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Angola doesn’t have a specific law to fight human trafficking, which make prosecution difficult.

ends intro

Father Zeferino Passagem tells the Angolan news agency ANGOP that the traffickers are preyed on the poor and removing their vital and sexual organs.

A public official tells the agency two women disappeared in the mission of Sao Bento in the province last December.

Police say they’re unable to find accurate information on the matter.

The official says some women farmers in the province have stopped going to their farms for fear of their safety.

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Formerly terrorist group acting violently for their own gain now appear to have a political agenda to oust the President who’s constitutional mandate expired more than a year ago.

International Organisation for Migration chief of mission for the Congo Jean Philipe Chauzy says world attention on increasing violence in Kasinga has taken eyes off  what’s happening in the Eastern DRC.

About 70 groups in the sensitive area bordering Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and Zambia are set on removing President Joseph Kabila.

The consequences of escalating violence in the theatre for what’s become known as  Africa’s world war 30 years ago are dire.

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Defence sources in Maseru says its less than a quarter of what they were led to expect.

SADC leaders are meeting next Sunday to put the seal of authority on the contingency force they’ll be sending to Lesotho.

The figure of 250 has emerged from a meeting of security chiefs at SADC headquarters in Gaborone.

This will comprise soldiers, police, intelligence operatives and civilian support staff.

Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe will provide them.

Indications are this the most SADC can afford.

Military sources in Lesotho say it’s not big enough to the job.

They were expect a force of battalion strength – that’s about 1 200.

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She was speaking at the opening of a ministerial meeting  preparing for today regional summit on security in the mountain kingdom surrounded by South Africa.

President Jacob Zuma will host that summit of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community to be attended by the heads of state of Angola, Namibia, Swaziland,  Tanzania and Zambia.

His Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula says Lt General Khoantle Motsomotso’s untimely death underscores the importance of dealing effectively with with the persistent political and security challenges  embracing Lesotho.

“ Our determination to help the people of Lesotho lay to rest their political and security challenges should not be doubted, ” the minister says

She says SADC has the capacity and the the political will to beat rogue elements in Lesotho.

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The SADC summit hosted by President Jacob Zuma also calls on Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to implement the security sector and constitutional called for by the regional organization.

Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane says he’s sure the measures agreed by SADC leaders today will be good for his country.

As a reformist, he’s committed to implementing the reforms called for by SADC.

The communique issues the end of today’s summit doesn’t specify how long the military, security and intelligence experts will stay in the kingdom.

Swazi King Mswati III was the only head of state to join President Jacob Zuma at the gathering.

Angola, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia  were all represented by senior ministers.

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His six-day safari has included  Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Republic of Congo and Nigeria.

Minister Wang Yi has followed five predecessors who visited Africa during their first foreign trip each year.

After seeing Wang yesterday, Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama ordered Taiwan to move its trade mission from the capital, Abuja, to the commercial hub, Lagos.

China pledged to invest $40 billion into infrastructure in Africa’s most populous country.

Wang says China will actively practice the values of friendship, justice and shared interests proposed by President Xi Jinping and aid African countries to seek independent and sustainable development

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