THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

May your Festive Season be safe,
happy and crime-free

It's that time of the year again when we all begin winding down for the Festive Season break. Some of us - many truck drivers for sure - will continue working throughout the season, some even on Christmas Day. Most people, however, will be taking time out to enjoy family time, reflect on the happenings over the past year and hopefully lay bold plans for 2008. When I look back on 2007, I reflect on a year where I have delighted in the on-going interactions I have had with the many wonderful people who make up this great trucking industry of ours. There is something about this industry that is just so special and no matter from which angle I look at it, the 'special' nature of this industry resides in the people who man - and woman - it. I think back on the many transport operators who, often against huge odds, have continued to keep the wheels of the economy rolling. I also think back on the many suppliers who have introduced new products and innovations to the market in their attempts to keep South African truckers up with the best the world has to offer. There are so many tremendous achievements so when I look back on the industry in general, I get a warm feeling that this is a sector that continues to add value to our beloved South Africa.

However, when I look back at the bigger political picture over the past year, my enthusiasm starts to wane. In my opinion, 2007 has been one of the darkest years on the political front in the 13 years since South Africa became a Rainbow nation. The 'nation building' which characterized the Madiba era hasn't featured anywhere near the agendas of the leaders of this country. Instead, all we have seen has been infighting, corruption, allegations, counter allegations and the like - and this at the highest levels of Government. The only thing that served to build and unite our nation was the fantastic performance of our Springbok team winning the Rugby World Cup. And then that too was surrounded by controversy over quotas and the coach. All this has had such a negative effect on the psyche of so many people and never, in the past 13 years, have I heard so many people expressing doubt about their futures in South Africa. Apart from the political goings-on that have served to break rather than build the spirit of this nation, the ongoing crime wave that has swept the country has damaged the morale of the good people of this nation to an horrendous extent. And don't let us listen to any inane utterings of how it's all under control from those numerous politicians who live in a world surrounded by security and far from the realities of the man in the street. They know nothing of what is really going on out there.

In just the past 15 hours, I have heard stories of how my Deputy Editor woke up in the middle of the night to find two men rummaging through his house. Luckily his loud shout scared them and they ran away - but he lost his wallet with all his credit cards, driver's license and other personals. Not so lucky was a family member of Andre Steyn who woke in the middle of the night a few weeks ago to find five men surrounding his bed. They screamed at him that they had come to rape him, his wife and his daughter. He resisted and was shot. He is still in hospital in a coma. That story was told just last night after an IRTE
meeting in response to Moses Naidoo of Henred Fruehauf telling us how he was sitting in a meeting with the management of ESO Trucking when 11 armed men stormed into the office. One of the ESO managers was shot dead and Moses was bashed around but came out alive. These stories were told in just the past 15 hours. How many more are there? I have lots more. How many do you have? And can you believe we are expected to continue swallowing the rubbish served up by naive politicians about how crime is under control. They are pathetic in their response to this serious crisis. 1 was in Germany earlier this week and a waitress - yes, waitress - when hearing that I came from South Africa said - wait for it: "I am scared to go there. They shoot you." It's all just the pits. Our politicians are giving South Africa to the criminals and that is the worse crime being committed in this country.

I didn't, however, want to end this year on a totally negative note for if you look hard enough, you will always find hope. It is thus you will see a guy in the middle of this page holding a huge bottle of celebratory Chateau Collapso. The man is Stefan Jos, CEO of Telimatrix who took this company to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on November 12th as a crowning moment of glory to the many years of success of Matrix Vehicle Tracking and CI Omnibridge - which are now linked under the Telimatrix umbrella. We'll come back to this one in our February edition but I wanted to raise a glass to Stefan Jos and his team as being a symbol of victory over adversity for this industry. As many readers will know, both Matrix Vehicle Tracking and CI Omnibridge have made huge contributions to the trucking industry over the years - Matrix in its fight against vehicle theft and hijacking and CI Omnibridge in its quest to help better manage fleets via its fleet management systems - not only locally but also internationally. These companies have had the will to do the right things for South Africa. They have had the will, for example, to fight crime and in so doing, bring hope to many. And they have succeeded in doing so. It is my wish that our politicians learn from them, put aside their petty thoughts and actions and follow Telimatrix's lead in taking this country forward not only locally but also internationally. Telimatrix has done it. South Africa can do it.

To all our good friends out there - readers and advertisers - the FleetWatch team wishes you a safe, happy, peaceful, crime free Festive Season. Please travel safely and may next year bring you everything you wish yourself and your families.

Patrick O'Leary
Managing Editor