According to the N3 Toll Concession, all Johannesburg-bound traffic is being diverted at Bergville, whereas heavy vehicles are being turned around at Frere. Motorists are requested to exercise caution.

Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, previously told OFM News just before midnight on Monday, the group of 30 drivers lined up their trucks in such a manner that the N3 near the Montrose Fuel Station, over 20 kms outside Harrismith, was completely cordoned off. Makhele says as a result, traffic ended up being lined up for 1 kms in both directions of the demonstration. No violence has been reported and public order police are on the scene. The bone of contention here is again the recruitment of foreign nationals as truck drivers.

The transport sector has been affected by attacks directed at trucks since 2019 across the country, especially in KwaZulu-Natal where vehicles were torched and foreign drivers were assaulted in some incidents. Concerns have been raised by driver associations that some truck companies prefer foreign national drivers over local ones. This has been in part attributed to foreign drivers being deemed as  “cheaper” labour.

As part of the initiatives to tackle problems in the sector, in April 2021 Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula published a draft amendment to the National Road Traffic Regulations that deals with the professional driving permit required for truck drivers, among others.

Makhele says the N3 drivers want Mbalula to address them.

OFM News