Truck blockade threatens 'entire supply chain'
Southbound lanes towards Durban at Van Reenen’s Pass were last night reopened after trucks blocked the highway, the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) has confirmed.
Angry truck drivers this week blocked the national highway, causing major traffic back-ups and raising concerns that SA’s ‘life-blood’ route is under serious threat.
Many drivers abandoned their trucks on both carriageways and removed the keys, a common tactic of the protesters.
The truckers, who are protesting against the employment of foreign nationals, blocked the N3 near Windy Corner, Van Reenen, and the northbound lanes in the vicinity of the Tweedie off-ramp, near Howick.
Recovery operations are continuing on the northbound section.
The Daily Maverick reports that the All Truck Drivers’ Forum (ATDF), responsible for numerous blockades along the N3 in the past, denied involvement in yesterday’s protest.
The ATDF is part of a loose coalition of disgruntled ‘locals’ that includes MK veterans and so-called business forums, which are outspoken about the hiring of foreign nationals in the province.
ATDF secretary Sifiso Nyathi said ‘hundreds’ of truckers are preparing for a blockade in the North West ‘and the national protest is gaining momentum’.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
