Watch: Truck Drivers Shut Down N3 Near Roadside in Protest Over Foreign Drivers

🕒 Last Updated: 2 June 2025, 11:05 AM

N3 Reopened After Truck Blockade near Roadside/Reitz Interchange

N3 Toll Route | Traffic Update | Roadside/Reitz IC Truck Obstruction: ALL LANES REOPENED | 10h45 on Monday, 2 June 2025 — The N3 Toll Route is NOW OPEN to traffic in both directions at the Roadside/Reitz Interchange (N3-9 Km 14.0). Road users should continue to expect delays in the area until mobility is restored. “We appreciate your patience and understanding, and the efforts of our road incident management system (RIMS) partners who assisted to resolve the situation. Please continue to share the road responsibly and safely,” ends Thania Dhoogra, chief operating officer of N3TC.

🕒 Updated: 2 June 2025, 09:50 AM

Diversions Effected, Traffic Slowly Past the Scene

N3 Toll Route | Traffic Update | Roadside/Reitz IC Truck Obstruction | 09h45 on Monday, 2 June 2025 — North- and southbound traffic is now being diverted via the off-ramps at the Roadside/Reitz Interchange (at N3-9 Km 14.0) while law enforcement services are attending to the obstruction caused by trucks on this section of the N3 Toll Route in the Free State.

While traffic is slowly starting to move past the scene, road users are warned to continue to expect congestion and delays in the area. “Please reduce your speed and approach this section of the N3 Toll Route with caution.

🕒 Updated: 2 June 2025, 09:16 AM

Police on scene of N3 blockade, N3 still blocked by trucks

N3 Toll Route | Traffic Update | Roadside/Reitz IC Truck Obstruction | 09h15 on Monday, 2 June 2025 — Trucks are continuing to obstruct the N3 Toll Route near the Roadside/Reitz Interchange (at N3-9 Km 14.0) in the Free State. All lanes are blocked and traffic in the vicinity of the scene is backlogged in both directions. Law enforcement services are attending to the disruption but road users are advised to expect delays in the area. N3TC recommends motorists postpone travel to the area until the scene has been cleared.

N3 Toll Route | Traffic Update | Roadside/Reitz IC Truck Obstruction | 09h15 on Monday, 2 June 2025 — Trucks are continuing to obstruct the N3 Toll Route near the Roadside/Reitz Interchange (at N3-9 Km 14.0) in the Free State. All lanes are blocked and traffic in the vicinity of the scene is backlogged in both directions. Law enforcement services are attending to the disruption but road users are advised to expect delays in the area. N3TC recommends motorists postpone travel to the area until the scene has been cleared.

🕒 Updated: 2 June 2025, 07:47 AM

Still No Police Presence at N3 Truck Driver Strike

Sources at the scene have reported that the police haven’t arrived yet at the scene and the road is gridlocked. All lanes, including the emergency lane from both directions, are blocked.

🕒 Updated: 2 June 2025, 07:07 AM

N3 Toll Route Confirms N3 Blockade

N3 Toll Route | Traffic Alert | Total Road Closure | 07H00 on Monday, 2 June 2025 — Reports have been received of trucks obstructing the N3 Toll Route in both directions near the Roadside/Reitz Interchange in the Free State. This may be part of an orchestrated action. Road users are advised to approach the area with caution. If possible, please delay your trips to the area until further information has been received from law enforcement services on the scene.

🕒 2 June 2025, 07:00 AM

The N3 freeway is currently CLOSED to all traffic between Warden and Villiers near the Roadside truck stop as protesting truck drivers bring the route to a complete standstill.

According to sources on the ground, members of the United Truck Drivers of South Africa (UTDSA), All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA), and Dudula are behind the protest.

A poster shared with SA Trucker indicates that the shutdown is a response to what the drivers call an “invasion by foreign nationals” in the trucking industry, accusing employers of prioritising undocumented foreign drivers over South Africans.

While chaos builds on one of the country’s busiest trucking corridors, SA Trucker reached out to ATDF-ASA secretary general Gugu Sokhela, who confirmed that ongoing talks are being held with other pressure groups regarding the employment of illegal foreigners in the industry. However, he couldn’t immediately confirm whether his members were participating in today’s N3 blockade.

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“We’ve been engaging in discussions to resolve the issue of illegal foreign drivers, but I can’t confirm at this stage if our members are part of this particular action,” said Sokhela.

Truckers are advised to avoid the N3 between Warden and Villiers until further notice and use alternative routes if possible.

This is a developing story. SA Trucker will keep you updated as more information becomes available.