KwaZulu-Natal authorities say they are still verifying reports that the All Truck Drivers’ Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) has called for a nationwide shutdown, as disruptions briefly brought traffic to a standstill on the N3 on Thursday morning.
All lanes on the busy toll route have since reopened after severe congestion caused by multiple trucks blocking the roadway between Estcourt and the Bergville Toll Plaza in the early hours of the morning.
The blockade is believed to be linked to the alleged national shutdown, with a widely circulated social media alert claiming that truck drivers are protesting against the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act. The alert also alleges dissatisfaction over the employment of foreign nationals in the freight sector.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the ATDF-ASA is officially behind the action, but investigations are under way.