Local truck drivers have welcomed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to engage neighbouring countries on the issue of undocumented immigrants.
They described the approach as a step towards finding long-term solutions to a complex regional challenge.
The reaction came from the Executive Committee of the Eswatini Drivers Association (EDA) following Ramaphosa’s remarks on Sunday, where he stressed that migration challenges could not be addressed by South Africa alone.
The South African leader said countries needed to tackle the underlying factors driving migration across the continent and beyond, noting that migration was a continental and global phenomenon requiring collective action.
EDA leaders said they had long advocated for the matter to be addressed at the level of heads of State, arguing that it requires coordinated regional solutions rather than isolated national interventions.
One executive member, who asked not to be named, noted that road freight remained a critical pillar of Eswatini’s economy.
“About 70% of the country’s economy depends on the movement of goods by road. If that sector is disrupted, the economy suffers a significant blow,” he said.
He said the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) had brought positive developments by facilitating the smoother movement of goods across borders and strengthening relations among African countries.
The executive member revealed that during a previous engagement with Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, the association raised concerns about the growing challenges faced by truck drivers travelling across the region.
He explained that while the goods transported by drivers were insured, drivers themselves often remained vulnerable to threats, intimidation and uncertainty arising from immigration-related tensions.
“What the South African president is saying is a step in the right direction.
“We are hopeful that regional leaders will give this issue the attention it deserves so that all countries can benefit fully from AfCFTA without drivers constantly worrying about their safety on the roads,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayiwane Member of Parliament Sicelo Dlamini noted that he needed to seek clarity from Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi regarding government plans to protect Emaswati working in neighbouring countries.
