The government is currently considering the implementation of a quota system for the employment of foreign nationals to ensure that more jobs are reserved for South Africans in an effort to curb rising unemployment.

This was according to Musa Zondi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Theo Boshoff, head of legal intelligence at Agbiz, confirmed that Agbiz and Agri SA were members of a forum that was in discussions with the government to address labor issues.

“One of the terms of reference is to see where the skills gaps lie, in order to [determine] where the AgriSETA funding should go.

However, recent violent protests by members of the trucking industry have forced the government to focus specifically on industry concerns, Zondo said.

“The Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of the Interior and the Deputy Minister of Police, as well as officials from the Ministry of Transport and other relevant ministries, are committed to accelerating policy changes. to solve some of the problems that have been brought up.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 8, Employment and Labor Minister Thulas Nxesi said: “There are policy initiatives related to home affairs and employment and labor to address migration and related policy initiatives. .

“However, I would like to appeal to those who feel aggrieved to renounce intimidation, traffic disruptions, undermining existing laws and structures.”

This was echoed by Home Secretary Aaron Motsoaledi, who assured the industry that a Border Management Authority (BMA) was being set up that would engage with the sector. trucking.

Zondi said the Department of Transportation is dealing with licensing issues and other issues, including cross-border transport relationships, driving licenses issued overseas, bogus licenses, lawsuits against non-compliant employers and discrimination against local drivers by the industry.

“We are focusing on people who are in the country illegally, but we have to accept that we have to consider some kind of quota system for South Africans. We need to identify which industries will protect South African jobs, ”Zondi said The farmers’ weekly.

Among other issues, the ministry was reviewing people’s documentation, he said.

“It’s relatively easy to find false papers, so we check which is legal. A foreign trucker might also have an international driver’s license, so it might be possible to be in South Africa illegally, while still having a legal driver’s license. “

Jaco Minnaar, president of Agri SA, said that with an unemployment rate of 41%, according to the expanded definition, he could understand why citizens were upset by the perception that illegal foreigners were in employment.

“However, there aren’t many people with the qualification [Code 14 driver’s license] and / or training to become truck drivers. It would be interesting to see how many illegal foreign nationals are actually illegally employed in the industry.

Boshoff added that it was important to distinguish between critical skills, scientific skills and work in general.

“If we don’t have enough South Africans with the necessary essential skills and if we are not allowed to import the skills, it will act as a handicap for our economy,” he added.

“The same goes for skills, like shearing sheep. About 70% of the shearers currently in use in South Africa originate from Lesotho. They are irreplaceable.

Minnaar stressed that it would be important to determine whether the government would discriminate against all foreigners, as this could be considered xenophobic.

“It would also be wrong. Farmers employ many legal foreign nationals. They are good hard workers and we must protect them as well. “