This well-known SA trope is no laughing matter

If you drive in South Africa, you’re definitely familiar with the sight of workers crammed together onto the back of bakkies, zooming across our nation’s highways and roads. This image was even immortalised in the popular South African satire comic, Madam & Eve, created by Stephen Francis and Rico Schacherl. 

This spectacle is, in fact, no joke, and is a major contributor to the high death toll on South Africa’s roads. Not only is this mode of transportation unsafe, it also represents a shocking and deplorable lack of respect for the lives of the workers who keep our economy moving.

In honour of National Transportation Month this October, organisations in SA are encouraged to review and revise their procurement practices to help end this unethical ‘norm’ on our roads.

“The strongest solution to this on-going and systemic problem, is for businesses in South Africa to begin taking very seriously the vetting process of the suppliers that they hire for jobs requiring blue-collar workers,” says industry expert Justin Manson of Webfleet, a Bridgestone Mobility Solutions company. “There are simple signs to look out for, to make sure that the fleet of any service provider you hire provides safety, for both workers and your company’s assets.”

Before you sign that contract, make sure you have covered your bases in vetting the potential supplier, to ensure they follow ethical and humane practices in their operations:

Ask the right questions

Business leaders or their procurement teams need to always ask detailed questions about suppliers’ fleets, and how their operations work, especially in terms of transportation of workers and goods. An ethical supplier will have a fleet that includes sufficient people-carrying vehicles, such as minivans, as well as bakkies and trucks for transporting tools and goods.

Recognise the signs of responsible management of supplier fleets and transportation

A responsible supplier who operates vehicles as part of their business will have systems and technology in place to manage their vehicles effectively, including the tracking and safety of their drivers, staff and assets. These systems could include telematics and in-cab cameras that monitor all vehicles and drivers, optimising routes, monitoring the location of vehicles, tracking assets, and monitoring driver behaviour. All of these methods contribute to a safe and responsibly managed fleet.

Encourage on-the-ground staff to look out for signs of unethical practices

You as a business leader may not always be able to evaluate your suppliers’ practices and confirm that what they have told you is indeed factual. But you must always inform your staff of your policy to ensure ethical transportation methods by suppliers. Encourage on-site staff members to flag any abnormalities or transgressions on the part of suppliers. They should strictly be using safe and reliable people-carrying vehicles that include safety features, such as proper seats and seat belts.

“Large organisations’ contracting of small to medium-sized organisations to carry out projects is a vital contributor to the growth of our economy and job creation, so we encourage business leaders to continue doing so,” Manson continues. “However, even more important is ensuring that the companies you choose to support with contracted work operate with humane and dignified practices in their transportation of workers, whose lives matter and deserve the dignity of protection.”