KwaZulu-Natal impounds 11 trucks in N3 crackdown on unsafe freight operators

The KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) carried out an intelligence‑driven operation, dubbed #NenzaniLaEzweni, along the N3 corridor near Pietermaritzburg. Inspectors impounded 11 heavy commercial vehicles after finding worn‑out tyres, missing or invalid transport permits, fraudulent road‑worthiness certificates and loads that exceeded legal size or weight limits.

Provincial MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the crackdown is part of a zero‑tolerance road‑safety campaign. He highlighted the danger of illegally imported tyres and pledged coordination with tyre manufacturers and industry stakeholders. The operation also stopped a truck driver travelling at 130 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, preventing a likely serious crash. Recent N3 data show single‑vehicle incidents account for 60.4% of crashes, and road fatalities rose 2.43% to 12,172 in 2024, with heavy trucks disproportionately involved.