KZN fuel strike causes massive traffic backlog

Hundreds of motorists have been left stranded on the N2 southbound for hours since this morning after being caught in the middle of a fuel strike, reports North Coast Courier.

The vehicle go-slow resulted in a massive traffic backlog between Stanger and Tongaat and is currently near the Tongaat toll plaza. The plaza has since been closed.

ALSO READ: Bus operators feel higher diesel price pain

KwaZulu-Natal Traffic Notice: Tongaat Toll Plaza South bound is closed due to Protest action, please find an alternative route. pic.twitter.com/amwYBNfbvw Netcare911_sa

— Search SA (@Search_SA) October 12, 2018

A queue of cars at least 3km long is forming while motorists wait to go through the toll plaza.

Police have reportedly contained the original protest near Mariannhill toll plaza, led by trade union  Cosatu’s KZN branch, which seriously affected the flow of traffic on the N3.

A few North Coast residents dressed in red decided to join in the action, leaving local motorists fuming.

#FuelPriceHike Police have fired stun grenades at protesting @_cosatu members who ran onto the Pietermaritzburg bound lanes at the Marianhill Toll plaza and obstructed traffic. Leadership has now called them to intensify their protest action. pic.twitter.com/Ez4rvzxjoj

— Nushera Soodyal (@nushera) October 12, 2018

One motorist, who was caught just as the strike action began, says he was stuck behind the “leaders” of the strike.

“I was driving through the Stanger Manor robots and they jammed my car. They said I could not go any further forward or they would chase me,” said a driver who asked to remain anonymous.

“I followed them out onto the N2 where they were driving into oncoming traffic, zig-zagging their cars and spinning tyres.

“They stopped the entire N2 so I jumped out my car and spoke to a few of the guys, who said the strike was part of the ‘petrol must fall’ movement.”

Many of the people involved were allegedly drinking and throwing their empty bottles around.

The motorist, who was ironically sitting with an empty fuel tank, eventually managed to escape the roughly 4km long traffic jam by taking the Groutville off-ramp, over the bridge and back down onto the N2 in front of them.

It is unclear whether the people leading the strike on the North Coast are members of Cosatu, as unions affiliated to Cosatu were also participating in the protests.

Motorists are urged to use alternative routes.

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