Coal truck drivers who caused traffic chaos in Tshwane on Wednesday are marching to the Union Buildings.
The protest was organised by the Coal Transportation Forum‚ which represents several companies that transport coal used to generate electricity.
Spokesperson Mary Padi claimed that as many as 30 000 workers involved in the supply of this coal would lose their jobs if government entered into contracts with Independent Power Producers which rely on renewable energy.
More than 100 trucks were parked at an old bus depot in Marabastad from where the drivers planned to march to the Union Buildings and hand over a memorandum.
Padi denied that the traffic chaos experienced in the capital city was part of the protest plan: “Authorities knew trucks would be on the road. It is a legal march. There was no chaos as the trucks were moving.”
Motorists and the Tshwane Metro Police‚ however‚ disagreed.
Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said‚ “We came to a compromise that they can come into the city with trucks and motor vehicles‚ driving individually‚ stop at Marabastad‚ park the trucks‚ get into the motor vehicles and go straight to the Union Buildings from 10am until around 2pm.
“But for them to wake up this morning‚ be on trucks‚ park in the middle of the road‚ as is being alleged‚ we didn’t approve that‚” he said.
Sephiwe Montlha‚ a councillor from Shoshanguve‚ was one of the motorists caught in the gridlock.
“The trucks are just standing the middle of the road. I’ve passed two trucks but there are eight in front of me and I can’t see past that‚” he said earlier in the day
Montlha said the trucks were driving at no more than 20km/h. Some truck drivers had left their vehicles in the middle of the road.
WATCH: 'Authorities knew‚ it's a legal march' – organiser of mass truck protest in Pretoria CBD
Coal truck drivers who caused traffic chaos in Tshwane on Wednesday are marching to the Union Buildings.
The protest was organised by the Coal Transportation Forum‚ which represents several companies that transport coal used to generate electricity.
Spokesperson Mary Padi claimed that as many as 30 000 workers involved in the supply of this coal would lose their jobs if government entered into contracts with Independent Power Producers which rely on renewable energy.
More than 100 trucks were parked at an old bus depot in Marabastad from where the drivers planned to march to the Union Buildings and hand over a memorandum.
Padi denied that the traffic chaos experienced in the capital city was part of the protest plan: “Authorities knew trucks would be on the road. It is a legal march. There was no chaos as the trucks were moving.”
Motorists and the Tshwane Metro Police‚ however‚ disagreed.
Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said‚ “We came to a compromise that they can come into the city with trucks and motor vehicles‚ driving individually‚ stop at Marabastad‚ park the trucks‚ get into the motor vehicles and go straight to the Union Buildings from 10am until around 2pm.
“But for them to wake up this morning‚ be on trucks‚ park in the middle of the road‚ as is being alleged‚ we didn’t approve that‚” he said.
Sephiwe Montlha‚ a councillor from Shoshanguve‚ was one of the motorists caught in the gridlock.
“The trucks are just standing the middle of the road. I’ve passed two trucks but there are eight in front of me and I can’t see past that‚” he said earlier in the day
Montlha said the trucks were driving at no more than 20km/h. Some truck drivers had left their vehicles in the middle of the road.
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