Mozambican transporters fall prey to violent protests in South Africa -- O País

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Mozambican transporters fall prey to violent protests in South Africa — O País

2:59 CAT | 14 Jul 2021

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: O País]

Some Mozambican-owned trucks have been looted and set on fire in violent protests in neighbouring South Africa, the Mozambican Federation of Road Transport Associations (FEMATRO) has announced.

There were no fatalities among the vehicles’ drivers.

Constantino Jotamo, director of the International portfolio at FEMATRO, told ‘O Pais’ that some trucks were vandalised in Durban, while other trucks reportedly fell into the hands of protesters in Gauteng.

“Some trucks have been burned and vandalised. We are seeking more information about what happened,” Jotamo said.

The violent protests plaguing most of the provinces of neighbouring South Africa have brought with them disastrous repercussions for transporters operating routes between the two countries.

The number of those travelling from Mozambique to South Africa has fallen drastically, formerly because of Covid-19 counter-measures and now because of the protests.

This Tuesday, for example, only three semi-collective passenger transport vehicles left for neighbouring South Africa.

At the Baixa International Bus Terminal in Maputo city, O Pais saw empty vehicles without drivers. Only two managed to leave for Johannesburg. Some drivers had given up, as no passengers were presenting themselves.

“Today, God help us, only two vehicles left, and one of them was only half-full,” Jotamo revealed.

A similar scenario could be observed at the Junta Interprovincial and International Bus Terminal, where only one vehicle left, and transporters were left totting up their losses.
“Traffic is weak. The last few days have been really difficult,” Rui Muianga, a transporter on the Maputo-Johannesburg route, says.

It’s not just damage that transporters are losing sleep over. Fear is also a factor, as Muianga explains. “We haven’t been attacked during a trip yet. They still try to go easy on us, but the fear persists,” he said.

The protests in South Africa have lasted for almost a week, and transporters fear the situation will get worse in the coming days.

By Precidonio Silverio

Source: O País