N3 in chaos after two-dozen trucks go up in flames in protest

Police have reportedly arrested more than 50 people after several vehicles were torched on the N3 highway on Sunday night in a violent protest.

Reports have stated that as many as 23 trucks were torched and 18 were looted after a protest shut down the busy highway at the Mooi River Toll Plaza.

URGENT WARNING. ÀVOID MOOI RIVER. TRUCKS BEING BURNT
Stay away from the N3 Highway North, South Bound at Mooi River. @N3Route @_ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/T95KMTWhvV

— FleetWatch Magazine (@FleetWatchCC) April 29, 2018

The highway remained closed on Monday morning, with traffic diverted to the R103 as cleanup operations continued.

This was the second such protest in the area this month after truck drivers have protested against the employment of foreign nationals.

The transport department has again condemned the violence “in the strongest terms”.

Trucks set on fire on the N3 near Mooi River. @SAPoliceService @FleetWatchCC @MakeSAsafe pic.twitter.com/29jWQzQJAT

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) April 29, 2018

At the start of April, the truckers’ blockade at the same toll plaza was condemned as “tantamount to sabotage” by Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande after residents in the area hurled petrol bombs, also causing several trucks to go up in flames, while also looting vehicles.

“On an Easter Monday? On the N3, which possibly is the busiest highway? It’s something you need to think about carefully because when you do that, you increase the chances of accidents,” Nzimande said.

“We must condemn the actions of some of the community who were throwing petrol bombs. Some of these trucks carry highly flammable liquids and that could cause lots of problems. That kind of action, as much as we say we understand protests, we mustn’t protest in a manner that becomes sabotage.

“If you block the highways, it is tantamount to sabotage.”

The looters caused chaos when up to eight trucks, including a petrol tanker, went up in flames and delayed thousands of returning holidaymakers.

The same thing has now bookended the end of April long weekend.