The N12 at the R24 split east of the Gilloolly’s interchange was completely blocked off by trucks parked across the highway this morning, with indications at the time suggesting that the important artery is still blocked by protest action when this report was posted.
It’s also not clear who’s responsible for the early-morning transport stoppage.
With at least four labour strikes on this week’s agenda, several of which are said to get under way today, it remains anyone’s guess who brought traffic on the N12 to a standstill.
According to Road Freight Association CEO Gavin Kelly, it’s possible that it could be any of the organisations who have been threatening to take to the streets over a number of employment, service delivery, and corruption-related issues.
These include the uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), the Truckers’ Association of SA (Tasa), and labour federation Cosatu.
A notice distributed by the MKMVA and Cosatu over the weekend put the veterans’ association closest to this morning’s blockade.
Its strike, intended to support an ongoing labour dispute by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, called for action in military and ANC regalia at “meeting point Gilloolys (sic) Intersection” from 4am this morning.
Another possibility was that Tasa could be responsible as it had demanded to meet with Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula at the intersection about its disputes.
The timing though made it unlikely that Tasa was responsible, Kelly said.
Cosatu and Numsa were also thought to be potential instigators of the blocking off of the N12 as both unions had indicated that they would embark on a labour go-slow from today.
Demands related to alleged dishonouring by government of wage agreements, failure to address the slow delivery of basic services involving healthcare and transport, as well as the slow pace of prosecution of corrupt officials, have all been mentioned by Cosatu and Numsa as reasons to bring the country’s economy to a halt.
Combined strike action by Numsa and Cosatu is expected to culminate in a nationwide shutdown this Wednesday.
