Blade Nzimande. Picture: Refilwe Modise
Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande has condemned the action of protesters who blocked the Mooiriver Toll Plaza on the N3 freeway on Monday.
“Whilst we respect the right of citizens to protest, we discourage any senseless acts of the destruction of property, criminality and sabotage,” Minister Nzimande said.
On the busy Easter traffic day, a group of protesters barricaded the toll plaza, looted and burned delivery trucks that were stuck in traffic. The protesters were apparently raising grievances regarding their conditions of employment.
The minister urged employers to ensure that they urgently engage their employees to find a solution to the concern of the truck drivers.
He thanked the law enforcement fraternity’s swift response, led by the Minister of Police Bheki Cele and the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison in KwaZulu-Natal Mxolisi Kaunda, as well as all the emergency personnel who responded to the incident.
Minister Nzimande said both sides of the Mooi River Toll Plaza now remained fully operational.
He urged all road users to be circumspect and remain patient when travelling during heightened traffic volumes.
“Preliminary reports indicate that driving at high speed, driving unlicensed and unroadworthy vehicles have been the major offences committed by motorists in the past four days,” Minister Nzimande said.
Law enforcement officers remain deployed at all major routes and at known hazardous areas. However, said the minister, the ultimate responsibility for road safety rested on the shoulders of all road users.
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