Contrary to reports received last week, the RTI today said the N2 at Pongola in KwaZulu-Natal would remain closed to side-tippers.

This after meetings were held between various parties this weekend. According to reports, some trucks attempted to use the N2 route last night, but were turned away.

The national route remains open to other trucks and vehicles.

Communities in the area where 20 people lost their lives in a collision between a side-tipper truck and a bakkie have, since the accident, banned these heavy-duty coal trucks from using the N2, forcing them to reroute via the R66/R34.

This has, in turn, placed immense strain on this secondary route, with some commuters reporting up to 50 trucks per hour on the R66/R34.

Mthonjaneni communities on Friday closed this route in protest against the high volume of trucks, appealing to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula to make alternative arrangements.