Transport authorities are investigating after several trucks were torched on the N3 at the weekend.
Traffic on the highway / Pexels
Officials confirmed at least four heavy goods vehicles were torched in the vicinity of Mooi River, Frere and Pietermaritzburg overnight and into this morning.
RTI in the province says one lane has since been opened to traffic between Chatterton Drive and Peter Brown Road in the capital.
Spokesperson Zinhle Mngomezulu says there is a major backlog of vehicles that now needs to clear.
"Two trucks that were torched, I believe they used a petrol bomb. The vehicles caught alight and due to high flames, the freeway had to be closed for several hours," explained Mngomezulu.
She says the drivers managed to abandon their vehicles and escape the scene.
"We have since opened one lane, we had been diverting traffic for almost six hours."
Meanwhile, the N3 Toll Concession says all incidents on the freeway within its authority have since been cleared -- that is between Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng.
86605: (Ongoing) N3 Westbound closed after Ramp from Dr Chota Motala Road because of Vehicle Fire. Expect Heavy Delays.
