Multi-Agency Blitz Targets Road Freight and Logistics Compliance

Posted 26 June 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Labour & Employment

Brought to you by SAnews: A multi-agency enforcement operation has targeted the road freight and logistics sector to enforce compliance with employment, immigration, and road transport laws.

In terms of the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002 and the Employment Services Act, No. 4 of 2014, the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of Transport executed a joint multi-disciplinary inspection blitz at the Mooi River Toll Plaza on the N3 and R103 in KwaZulu-Natal. The operation focused on identifying undocumented foreign nationals employed as drivers, checking compliance with transport permits, and enforcing statutory labour standards.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the operation targeted employers violating section 38 of the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002, which prohibits the employment of undocumented foreign nationals. Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza confirmed that the state is actively targeting employers to reduce the demand for illegal immigrant labour within the domestic and cross-border trucking sectors.

Key compliance areas scrutinized during the multi-agency operation included:

  • Verification of valid work permits and corporate visas for foreign national drivers under the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002.
  • Adherence to vehicle permit conditions and load limits under the National Road Traffic Act, No. 93 of 1996, following reports of cargo vehicles being unlawfully used for passenger transport.
  • General compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No. 75 of 1997 and applicable sectoral determinations governing the road freight and logistics industry.

The Department of Transport highlighted that several vehicles were found operating outside their permit conditions, including instances of severe overloading and transporting passengers in cargo areas, which constitutes a material breach of road safety regulations.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; professional impact is channelled through advising corporate clients on cross-border transport and employment compliance.
  • For your business: Ensure internal human resource policies and recruitment processes strictly verify the work authorization of all logistics and supply chain personnel to avoid vicarious liability and statutory penalties under the Immigration Act.
  • For your clients: Logistics and transport operators must immediately audit their driver payrolls, verify valid professional driving permits (PrDPs) and work visas, and review vehicle loading sheets to ensure strict compliance with the National Road Traffic Act and Immigration Act before the next multi-agency road blitz.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-blitz-inspection-yields-results-kzn

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