N3 protests

Watch: Footage shows multiple trucks torched during N3 protest [video]

A truly shocking watch.

N3 protests

Monday morning saw South Africans waking up to the news that the N3 was a no-go area after 50 people were arrested. Trucks were torched near Mooi River in KwaZulu-Natal with 35 ending up damaged in total.

Read: Mooi River: Over 50 arrested after violent protests

Now, multiple videos and pictures of the incident have made their way online. Unsurprisingly, they make for some rather uncomfortable viewing.

“It is believed that the people who were protesting and throwing stones as well as burning objects had causing extensive damages to property. Local police and neighbouring police stations were mobilised and dispersed a number of people who were looting the burning trucks,” she said.

The 54 appeared in the Mooi River’s Magistrate’s Court later today.

“The situation is calm today although the road is still blocked due to the trucks that were burnt,” Police Spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said.

The protests originally began on Sunday afternoon and carried on long into the night through to the early hours of the morning. Reports showed that at least one person was critically injured.

The same part of the highway also played host to looting earlier in April.

The incident caused a massive backlog on Monday morning even after the violence had come to an end. Highway authorities have said that they are working hard to have the road fully operational again by Tuesday.

The Road Freight Association has also estimated that the damages are in the region of R205.

Motorists have been urged to obtain essential traffic information before travelling on the N3 Toll Route.

Contact the 24-hour N3 Route Helpline on 0800 63 4357 to get traffic updates and follow N3TC on Twitter: @N3Route for real-time traffic reports.

You can check out the video from News24, below.

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