A total of five trucks were set ablaze during a violent protest on the N2 at Mfekayi, between Hluhluwe and Mtubatuba, on Thursday night.
Among the torched vehicles was a tanker combination transporting ethanol. Fortunately, only the horse caught fire, sparing the highly flammable tanker from what could have been a catastrophic blaze.
The unrest was sparked by residents of Mfekayi protesting against a prolonged electricity outage. The angry mob blocked the N2 highway and targeted passing trucks, leading to a chaotic and dangerous situation.
One truck driver recounted his harrowing experience with the protesters. “It was scary, three guys climbed into my truck demanding water. I gave them, but they started searching for other things. That’s when I jumped and fled into the bush for safety. I saw at least three trucks burning, one was a tanker,” he said.
While no injuries were reported, some drivers were assaulted and robbed of their belongings during the chaos.
According to a local source, the protest stemmed from an unexpected power line breakdown in the Nkondibe area, just after Eskom completed planned maintenance.
This unforeseen issue extended the electricity outage across the entire Mtubatuba region. Temporary measures were implemented to restore power in the town and nearby residential areas, but Mfekayi and other outlying areas remained in the dark, fueling the residents’ frustration.
A video of the burning trucks was shared on the SA Trucker App.
As of now, the protestors have dispersed, and recovery and cleanup efforts are underway near Zamimpilo Market, south of Hluhluwe, where the trucks were torched. Authorities have implemented a stop-and-go system to manage traffic flow in the affected area.
