R38 in Barberton now open following road closure by protest
The R38 was blocked at Verulam in Barberton in two separate incidents: on the night of February 13 and the morning of February 14. It has since been cleared and the police are monitoring the situation.
The R38 at Verulam in Barberton is now open following an hour-long road closure by some community members in the area.
The Barberton SAPS spokesperson, Constable Prayer Mbungela, said the road had initially been closed last night, February 13, at about 21:30 when some members of the Sinqobile community in Verulam stopped and looted a truck transporting vegetables.
Mbungela said while the situation was resolved and the road had been cleared last night, it was again closed this morning at about 10:30 when some residents of Sinqobile blocked the R38 and stopped a truck driver on the road. The members are said to have taken the driver’s keys and used the truck to block the road.
ALSO READ: Some Kruger roads expected to be inaccessible for next 48 hours
He said the Barberton police were on the scene and the residents returned the truck keys to the driver. He left the scene shortly after.
Mbungela said the road closure lasted for about an hour and the situation is being monitored by the SAPS. He said it is unclear at this stage what the cause for the closure was.
He added that no arrests had yet been made in the looting incident.
