Editor – My family and I planned a trip to the South Coast months in advance, and thanks to the Lord, we reached our destination hail, hearty and safe.
The trip back home was okay as far as traffic volume was concerned, until we reached two kilometres before the Mooi River Toll Plaza last week Monday.
Traffic had gridlocked and hardly anyone knew the reason.
On the assumption that there was a massive accident, nearly all drivers kept their cool and waited and waited.
Some passengers decided to walk for exercise and after covering more than a kilometre were advised to return to their cars because the traffic jam was not due to any accident, but rather due to protest action.
Our country’s Constitution is reputed to be the most democratic piece of legislation anywhere in the world.
I recently read an article that stated “In a recent interview on Egyptian TV, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Egyptians, who are selecting a team to draft a new constitution, should not consider the US’s iconic document but instead the ‘great piece of work’ completed in South Africa in 1996.”
Unemployed truck drivers wished to air their grievances to employers who were allegedly giving preference to foreigners and they (truck drivers) decided to vent their anger by protesting at the toll station. They wanted to create awareness to passing motorists about their plight.
Unfortunately, as we see elsewhere, criminal elements and people who knew nothing about the actual reason for the protest jumped on the bandwagon, in this case onto trucks and trailers.
Their huge numbers intimidated truck drivers, who were forced to flee from the road and seek shelter.
Has our country degenerated to the point where there is no law and order at all?
What we witnessed at the Mooi Toll was very frightening. The police were outnumbered and obviously unable to contain the protesters for many hours.
The N3 is one of the major roads between Gauteng and Durban, which is still the leading destination for holiday-makers. The very same holiday-makers who help to create and sustain jobs when they book into hotels and resorts on the coast.
The actions of the so-called protesters at the Mooi Toll was a disturbing picture that is developing in our country and if the police do not stop these actions, our country is heading for anarchy.
Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
