Update: the N3 Toll Concession Company announced the partial-reopening of the N3 highway in both directions shortly before 11:00. Traffic was still severely backed up, but had started flowing again.

10h55 #ProtestActionUpdate: #MooiPlaza. North bound is opened. South bound slow lane opened, however there are extensive backlogs that are still clearing. We appreciate your patience. — N3 Toll Concession (@N3Route) April 2, 2018

The SA Police service said public-order police (POP) had been deployed in the area and had cleared roads.

#sapsKZN Members of #SAPS POP Unit at Mooi River area. Members cleared the roads. The N3 is now opened. SW pic.twitter.com/K4nXD2ViaU — SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) April 2, 2018

The Witness reported that police had used teargas and rubber bullets.

UPDATE: Police fire rubber bullets and teargas at looters near Mooi River. There are reports that the #N3 northbound lane is now open. #MooiRiverProtest pic.twitter.com/DD9Xuviib1 — The Witness (@WitnessKZN) April 2, 2018





The company responsible for the N3 toll road between Durban and Johannesburg on Monday morning confirmed a "total road closure" due to protest action at Mooi River.

The protest started around dawn.

Protesters reportedly used burning tyres to block the national route, and there were some reports of rocks being thrown at cars.

The N3 sees the heaviest traffic of any long-distance toll road every Easter Monday as holidaymakers from Gauteng return from long weekend breaks in Durban and the surrounding KwaZulu-Natal coast on the same day.

This year a peak as high as 3,500 vehicles per hour was expected between 9AM and noon on Monday, with lesser peaks later in the day.

07h00 Protest action taking place in the vicinity of #MooiPlaza. Total road closure. Please delay your trips. We urge all drivers to be extremely cautious. — N3 Toll Concession (@N3Route) April 2, 2018

08h00 Protest action taking place in the vicinity of #MooiPlaza. Total road closure. Please delay your trips. We urge all drivers to be extremely cautious. — N3 Toll Concession (@N3Route) April 2, 2018

Police said surrounding roads were also closed.

#sapsKZN Please be warned that roads around Mooi River is closed and completely inaccessible. Protesters at Mooi River toll gate. The R62, R103 and the N3 north and south bound is closed. SW pic.twitter.com/PBvfuLVfCr — SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) April 2, 2018

The closure of the alternative R103 road meant the best way around the protest was via Greytown on the R33 and R74.

For those stuck close to the Mooi Toll Plaza, that would mean returning to Pietermaritzburg, some 60 kilometres back the way they had come, and rejoining the N3 after Colenso, a detour of around 50 kilometres in total – on roads not equipped for peak holiday traffic.

Photos and video from motorists on the road showed long queues – and little faith that they would be moving again any time soon.

@N3Route Mooi Plaza closed due to protest action. Going to be a long day for travelers. pic.twitter.com/swEBxsKwYL — Caffeine (@leon_moodley) April 2, 2018

@TrafficSA @EWNTraffic protest action (tires being burnt and rocks being thrown at cars) at the Mooi Plaza toll gate! — thamsanqa ???? (@ThamiMzolo) April 2, 2018

N3 blocked at Mooiriver Plaza pic.twitter.com/J9DMHsqFQD — Chris (@ChrisPavan5) April 2, 2018

The Ladysmith Herald reported that two trucks had been set on fire.



North and South Bound,N3 by Mooi River Greytown Rd Area. Protest action in progress. SAPS on scene. R103 &R622 closed. Two trucks on fire due to the #Protest @TabloidNewsKZN @claudWaude

Supplied pic.twitter.com/9Xa3j4mvjB — The Ladysmith Herald (@ladysmithherald) April 2, 2018

The Ladysmith Gazette reported that the blockade appeared to have been triggered by truck drivers who were protesting against trucking companies using foreign drivers.

A video showed a Spar delivery truck being deliberately disabled.

Other video clips showed trucks being looted and on fire.

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