Namibian truck drivers withdraw from South Africa over xenophobia fears
via The Namibian6 min read
Namibian transport companies are pulling their drivers out of South Africa due to fears of xenophobic violence ahead of a planned anti-immigrant protest. The protest coincides with a June 30 deadline set by activists for undocumented immigrants to leave South Africa. Transworld Cargo manager Fritz Kaufmann stated his company would withdraw all trucks, prioritizing employee safety over trade disruptions. Samco Import and Export CC has also suspended deliveries, citing warnings from their insurer about security risks. Namibia's High Commissioner to South Africa, Nangula Ithete, confirmed that the government is arranging voluntary repatriation for Namibian citizens, though the process is in early stages and unlikely to be completed before the protest. South African Member of Parliament Lerato Ngobeni, however, denied claims of xenophobic attacks, asserting that the issue is illegal immigration and weak border controls, not nationality. Petersen Kambinda, commander-in-chief of the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union, urged South African authorities to protect Namibian drivers, hoping they would not be targeted. Previous reports indicate that other foreign nationals, including those from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, and Nigeria, have sought protection or been repatriated from South Africa due to similar concerns. The South African government has condemned attacks on foreign nationals and is working to improve social cohesion and migration
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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