The N3 corridor has once again been thrown into chaos, this time with trucks set alight between Harrismith and Montrose in what is suspected to be a coordinated arson attack.
Early reports indicate that multiple trucks were forced to stop and park across the roadway before being set on fire, effectively blocking both directions of the busy freeway. Thick smoke has been seen billowing across the route, with traffic grinding to a complete halt.
This latest incident comes just days after a similar disruption near Harrismith, where drivers told SA Trucker that masked men forced trucks to park across the N3 and confiscated their keys.
That earlier blockade caused major delays and left motorists stranded for hours along one of South Africa’s most critical freight routes.
Now, the situation appears to have escalated from obstruction to outright destruction.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of vehicles involved or whether there have been any injuries, but emergency services are expected to be on scene as the situation develops. The full extent of the damage is still unclear.
The N3, which links KwaZulu-Natal’s ports to Gauteng’s economic hub, is a vital artery for freight movement. Repeated disruptions like these are already raising serious concerns among transport operators, especially with incidents now happening in close proximity within a short space of time.
Truckers using the route are urged to avoid the area entirely and wait for official clearance before attempting to travel through the affected stretch.
This is a developing story. More updates to follow as information comes in.
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