Three individuals, including a national office bearer of the All Truck Drivers Forum South Africa (ATDF-SA), are in police custody following a coordinated operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) targeting violent disruptions on the N3 highway near Bergville.
The arrests stem from an early Saturday morning incident in which approximately ten suspects were observed halting trucks along the N3 southbound, causing traffic to come to a complete standstill. When police patrols approached to investigate, the group fled into surrounding bushes, leaving behind a white Isuzu bakkie with all doors open.
Forensic and preliminary checks confirmed the abandoned vehicle was registered to a senior ATDF-SA national official. Officers recovered an ATDF-SA banner and multiple stones from inside the bakkie—items investigators say are linked to incitement and acts of violence against motorists.
During the scene assessment, SAPS officers noticed a white Volkswagen Polo traveling suspiciously along the N3 northbound. A pursuit revealed the vehicle had been sent to retrieve the owner of the abandoned Isuzu. Both the Polo’s driver and passenger—identified as truck drivers—were detained, together with the bakkie’s owner whom they had come to extract.
Further investigative links connect the Isuzu’s owner to the stoning of a bus at the N3 Colenso Interchange, which occurred moments before his apprehension. All three suspects are currently undergoing processing at a local police station. SAPS confirmed that additional charges, including malicious damage to property and public violence, may be added as investigations continue.
Authorities emphasized that the N3 corridor is a critical economic artery, and any attempts to disrupt transport logistics through intimidation, violence, or illegal road closures will be met with swift and firm legal consequences. Motorists are urged to report suspicious activity to SAPS immediately and to avoid stopping in areas where road disruptions are suspected.
