The truck driver strike which started earlier on Tuesday morning on the N3 at Reitz have spread to R34 John Ross highway and the N11 between Ladysmith and Newcastle.
Reports coming in suggest that foreign truck drivers are being targeted and robbed of their belongings while South African truck drivers are asked to use their vehicles to block the roads.
Motorists woke up to find trucks blockading the N3 route obstructed near Makiti between Warden and Villiers in the Free State.
The freeway is completely blocked to all traffic.
Read also: NBCRFLI threatens to halt trucks if government doesn’t reign on lawless ATDF-ASA
Latest reports say that the N11 has also been blocked between Ladysmith and Newcastle.
In Richards Bay, the R34 John Ross highway is blocked at the Alton robots.
Transporters are advised to hold back their trucks and those on the road near the affected areas should park at the nearest truck stop.
Earlier on in an interview on SA FM, an ATDF-ASA leader denied that the protest was organised by his organisation. He said that members from his organisation and other truck drivers fed up with the government’s inaction were the ones protesting.
However, ATDF-ASA has been in and out of meetings with government and trucking industry role players seeking to have foreign truck drivers removed from trucks but to no avail.
Government told the group that they would not negotiate with them as they are not recognised as a trade union.
Meanwhile, on the N3 a video has emerged of alleged truck drivers drinking beer during the protest.
Another video shows the truck from which the alcohol was looted.
