This as Members of the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa have been on a stay-away since the weekend. The forum said no trucks will be moving across the country.
They are protesting against the hiring of foreign nationals in the trucking industry. It is expected that ATDF members will be marching to bargaining councils in Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg today. RTI spokesperson Zinhle Mali, “We are out and about trying to ensure the maximum safety of truck drivers that are travelling. There are few trucks on the freeway today. I believe truck owners are trying to ensure that their trucks are very safe because of the news that was spread regarding trucks being torched. So far there is nothing that has happened, we are monitoring and should anything happen, we will alert the public.
On Sunday, authorities advised motorists to avoid the N3 highway in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, as well as the N12 in the direction of Emalahleni in Mpumalanga. This was due to trucks blockading the road.Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Obed Sibasa said traffic had been severely affected. “Motorists are advised to use alternative routes or delay their journeys as authorities are trying to remove the trucks. The drivers just parked the trucks and left with keys. They were also attempts on the N1 and the N4 but traffic police swiftly managed the situation.”