Port Shepstone experienced significant disruptions due to a taxi-truck shutdown that began on Thursday morning.
UPDATE: Law enforcement authorities confirmed the Port Shepstone shutdown is linked to the taxi industry’s revolt against unfair treatment by RTI Provincial, and not the ATDF-SA truck uprising.
Port Shepstone taxi-truck shutdown: Motorists warned to avoid these roads
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The protest action, which initially started in Marburg on the N2, quickly spread to various intersections and roads, causing major traffic disruptions.
The affected areas include:
- N2: Main Harding Road at Marburg KFC Robots: Blocked
- Murchison and Merlewood Robots at Mkholombe: Blocked
- Ugu Robots in Marburg: Closed
- P200 at Gamalakhe: Closed
- Intersection near Port Shepstone Hospital: Blocked
- Marine Drive near Engen Garage in Olso Beach: Blocked
Motorists have been advised to avoid these areas as SAPS, law enforcement, and security personnel are on-site managing the situation.
Is this linked to the ATDF-SA truck shutdown?
At the time of reporting, details about the protest were scarce, and it was unclear if this shutdown was directly linked to the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa’s (ATDF-SA) planned shutdown.
This past weekend, ATDF-SA warned of a truck shutdown for Monday, 20 May 2024, due to dissatisfaction with the Department of Employment and Labour (DOEL)’s response to their allegations of certain transport companies employing foreign nationals without following the proper processes.
However, in the 11th hour, ATDF-SA temporarily suspended Monday’s planned shutdown following negotiations with the departments of Home Affairs and Labour.
Despite this, the possibility of the protest resuming remained if their concerns were not adequately addressed.
This is a developing story.