Traffic flow on the N3 highway has returned to normal on Wednesday, after a bumpy start to the week.
N3 highway traffic updates on Wednesday 27 October 2021
By 03:00 on Wednesday morning, barriers that had blocked traffic between Swinburne and Montrose were successfully cleared. According to Thania Dhoogra, the operations manager of N3 Toll Concessions, a truck had dropped a load of manganese in the southbound lanes.
However, highway operators and road management officials worked tirelessly to remove the obstruction before morning peak traffic.
“N3TC is grateful for the on-going assistance of all road incident management services and their efforts to help clear the route of obstructions. Your support is appreciated and highly valued,” Dhoogra said.
At the time this article was published, trucks that had blocked the highway between Harrismith and Montrose on Tuesday were removed and normal traffic was observed.
05h12 27/10 #N3Traffic: There are currently no reported incidents disrupting the flow of traffic along the #N3TollRoute between Cedara I/C 96 and Heidelberg South I/C 59. Thank you for sharing the road responsibly. Please drive safely. #BuckleUp
— N3 Toll Concession (@N3Route) October 27, 2021
What prompted the truck drivers protest?
The start of this week was rocked by a national protests led by truck drivers who demanded an audience from Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula.
The blockade started on Sunday 24 October 2021 with the South African National Cargo Transport Drivers Association clear on its demand to have all foreign nationals removed from the freight industry.
It’s believed talks have taken place between disgruntled truck drivers and the transport ministry, the result of which was seen on Tuesday when routes previously blocked by heavy motor vehicles were cleared.
However, the peace that’s been restored to South Africa’s highways may be temporary. According to the association’s spokesperson Lungile Toyi, the government has seven days to de-register all foreign national truck drivers or face more disruptions on national roads.
“We as SA drivers have decided to give seven days the minister is demanding but in that seven days we’ll remain in this position until he fixes whatever issue needs to be fixed but we’ll remain here as truck drivers,” he said.