Violent protests over service delivery and the arrest of land invaders brought sections of the N3 to a standstill last week. News of trucks and tyres being burnt caused jitters in the industry, raising concerns of a repeat of last year’s protests which flared up over dissatisfaction with the number of foreign nationals employed as drivers in the industry. The first incident last week involved the burning of a truck near Hayfields Mall in Pietermaritzburg. The province’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) placed officials on “high alert”, even after arson was ruled out. But the RTI’s “high alert” status remained in place and just as well because by week’s end the heightened state of awareness among officers enabled quick response to incidents of truck burning reported on the N3 near Howick and the R617 passing through Boston. SAPS spokesperson, Captain Ngobile Gwala, said the tyre burning at Boston had been sparked after community members protested the arrest of nine people on suspicion of illegal land grabs. Sporadic incidents of stone throwing prompted authorities to turn away traffic travelling between Howick and Underberg, and on Sunday at least one section of the N3 near Mooi River Toll Plaza was still blocked off to any traffic. A freelance journalist from Howick, Trisk Beaver, confirmed that warnings had been sent out on Whatsapp groups alerting locals and passers through against using certain roads. But by Monday acting CEO for the Road Freight Association, Gavin Kelly, said “all was good” and that the N3 was open to traffic in both directions.
INSERT
