Traffic on the N3 was brought to a standstill on Friday morning after two separate crashes involving trucks near Ashburton. Both sides of the freeway were heavily congested, causing significant delays.
The collisions, which occurred on the Pietermaritzburg side from Lynnfield Park, prompted a response from the Road Traffic Inspectorate. Sindi Msimang, a spokesperson for the Inspectorate, confirmed that looters had also targeted one of the vehicles involved in the crash.
Msimang advised motorists to take alternative routes, recommending the R103 Market Road as a diversion point. Another accident involving a heavy vehicle was reported near Camperdown on the northbound lanes, where looting was also reported. Motorists were urged to use R103 Camperdown as an alternative route to avoid the scene.
The KZN Department of Transport MEC, Siboniso Duma, expressed concern about the rise in rain-related accidents on the province's roads, with collisions also being reported on the N2. Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesperson for the department, pointed out that the ongoing damage to roads, worsened by heavy trucks and prolonged rainfall, underlines the importance of revitalizing KZN's rail networks.
MEC Duma believes transitioning cargo from road to rail will help alleviate the pressure on the province’s deteriorating roads and enhance the safety of both motorists and the public.