Two Arrested After Foreign Truck Drivers Targeted in N3 Blockade

Two men have been arrested in connection with the early Monday morning N3 blockade near Roadside, where more than 15 trucks were left abandoned on both sides of the busy highway.

According to the SAPS media statement issued on 2 June 2025, the chaos unfolded just after 06:30 when the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) alerted police to a complete closure of the route in both directions. The trucks were found parked across the lanes, engines off, and no drivers in sight.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a group of individuals had allegedly stopped the trucks, mostly driven by foreign nationals, forcefully removed the keys, and confiscated the drivers’ cellphones. The foreign drivers told police the group accused them of “stealing South African jobs.”

Two suspects, aged 52 and 68, were arrested at the scene for common robbery. They are expected to appear in the Vrede Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, facing charges of tampering with essential infrastructure and common robbery.

The blockage caused a massive backlog of traffic and frustration among motorists and logistics operators. After nearly four hours, authorities, alongside private security and road management teams, managed to clear the route and restore traffic flow.

This incident adds to growing tensions around the employment of foreign nationals in South Africa’s trucking sector, an issue that continues to spark heated debate.

Police say investigations are ongoing and more arrests may follow.