News24 reports that the N3 Toll Route at Van Reenen's Pass has been re-opened to traffic after six trucks were set alight by a group of armed gunmen in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police said the armed men stopped the trucks near Van Reenen's Pass, forced the drivers out of their vehicles before setting the trucks on fire, and then fleeing the scene. N3 Toll Concession spokesperson Thania Dhoogra said the southbound lanes on Van Reenen Pass were now open, accommodating both directions of traffic using contraflow. "The northbound carriageway (towards Johannesburg) will however remain closed until repairs can be completed and the road deemed safe for passage," said Dhoogra. The Road Freight Association called for action to be taken against those responsible for the attacks on truck drivers in the country. Describing the incident as a well-coordinated attack on the road freight sector, the association’s CEO, Gavin Kelly said the specific spot on the N3, as well as the timing of the attack, were chosen to cause 'mayhem and disruption'. Questioning who was behind the attacks, Kelly said there was no looting of vehicles and thankfully none of the drivers or staff on the vehicles were injured or killed. On Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal police were hunting the group of armed suspects responsible for the attack. The incident came just hours ahead of the second anniversary of the July 2021 unrest, which was marked on Sunday.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24
• Lees ook, Ses vragmotors by Van Reenenspas aan die brand gesteek, by Maroela Media

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