The N3 freeway has been closed to all traffic between Warden and Villiers, near the Roadside truck stop, due to a protest by truck drivers that has brought the route to a standstill.
Sources indicate that the demonstration is led by members of the United Truck Drivers of South Africa (UTDSA), the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA), and Dudula. A circulating poster suggests the protest is a response to what drivers describe as an “invasion by foreign nationals” in the trucking sector, with claims that employers are favoring undocumented foreign drivers over South Africans.
As congestion worsens on one of the country’s key freight routes, SA Trucker contacted ATDF-ASA secretary general Gugu Sokhela, who confirmed ongoing discussions with industry groups regarding the employment of undocumented foreign drivers. However, he could not immediately verify whether his members were involved in today’s blockade.
“We’ve been engaging in talks to address the issue of illegal foreign drivers, but I can’t confirm right now if our members are part of this specific protest,” Sokhela said.
Motorists and truckers are urged to avoid the affected N3 stretch and seek alternative routes until the situation is resolved.
Updates will follow as more details emerge.
