Staff Reporter
KwaZulu-Natal police have arrested a national office bearer of the All Truck Driver Forum South Africa (ATDF-SA) for alleged incitement of violence after trucks were blocked on the N3 southbound near Bergville in the early hours of Saturday.
Police said in a statement that officers on patrol noticed traffic slowing before coming to a standstill. When they investigated, they found about 10 people stopping trucks. The group fled into nearby bushes when police approached, abandoning a white Isuzu bakkie with its doors open.
Police said preliminary investigations showed the bakkie belonged to a prominent ATDF-SA office bearer. An ATDF-SA banner and stones were found inside the vehicle.
A suspicious white Volkswagen Polo was later spotted on the N3 northbound. Police followed the vehicle and found it had allegedly come to collect the owner of the abandoned bakkie.
The driver of the Polo, his passenger and the driver of the bakkie were arrested. Police said both occupants of the Polo were truck drivers.
Police said the bakkie owner could also be linked to the stoning of a bus at the N3 Colenso interchange shortly before his arrest.
The suspects were still being processed on Saturday, and police said further charges could be added.
The arrest comes amid heightened concern over planned truck-driver protests and anti-illegal-immigration mobilisation.
ATDF-SA has been linked to planned action over the employment of foreign nationals in the trucking industry, including protests targeting major routes such as the N2 and N3 in KZN.
East Coast Radio and The Witness reported this week that ATDF-SA’s grievances include the employment of undocumented foreign nationals, labour-law enforcement and regulation of the trucking industry.
The group is also one of the organisations whose activities overlap with rising mobilisation ahead of 30 June, when anti-illegal-immigration group March and March has said it will proceed with a national shutdown unless government acts against undocumented foreign nationals. ATDF-SA has also made known its intentions to hold its own protest on that day.
Police have not named the arrested office bearer.
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