The busy N3/N5 interchange in Harrismith was briefly blockaded during a truck driver strike early on Monday morning. This key junction, which also provides access to Access Highway Junction – the largest truck stop in South Africa – was partially obstructed as the protest unfolded.
A video sent to SA Trucker captured a truck positioned across the roadway with a flag of the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) prominently displayed.
However, the protest did not gain traction, largely due to ATDF-ASA distancing itself from the action. ATDF-ASA Secretary-General Gugu Sokhela told SA Trucker that the organisation was not involved in the demonstration and had not endorsed any shutdown.
The protest was ignited by a circulating poster on social media, which called for a national shutdown and featured ATDF-ASA’s logo.
Sokhela explained, “The poster claimed it was an initiative by South African drivers organised by ATDF-ASA. We cannot prevent individuals from protesting, but we want to be clear that this action was not organised by ATDF-ASA.” Sokhela also urged others not to misuse the organisation’s logo.
N3/N5 Reopened After Minor Truck Driver Strike at Harrismith https://t.co/sALnP1y13z pic.twitter.com/3icaLrZ97e
— SA Trucker (@rsa_trucker) November 11, 2024
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Public order police responded swiftly to the scene and dispersed the protestors, reopening the interchange to traffic. NATJOINTS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that a person found with an ATDF-ASA flag was taken in for questioning, though it’s not yet clear if formal charges will follow.
The protest highlighted ongoing frustrations within the South African trucking industry, particularly around the hiring practices allegedly favouring foreign nationals – a recurring issue for truck drivers in the country.
While the ATDF-ASA leadership stressed its non-involvement, today’s minor blockade underlines the tensions simmering within the industry.
For now, the N3/N5 interchange has returned to normal operations, with traffic flowing freely again.
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