Is the threatened national shutdown imminent, or it has started already? Opinions have been flying all over social media following the blocking of the N4 by truck drivers.
In several clips on social media, the trucks could be seen blocking the major roads and several others. The drivers had reportedly taken the action in protest against fuel price hike in the country. According to one eyewitness, Nelspruit has been at a standstill due to the blockade.
Nelspruit is on stand still #MbombelaShutdown#NationalShutdown@TrafficSApic.twitter.com/QU51PYK3c9
— Khazana Green (@TheOnlyKhazana) July 6, 2022
It's happening I'm Mpumalanga National shutdown. Let's go fight on street guys not on Twitter. #NationalShutdown
SK KHOZA Sithelo pic.twitter.com/frB3PAj3oP
— đź“€BongzSavage 🇿🇦 (@Bongz_Savage) July 6, 2022
The police have since responded and made a couple of arrested. The Mpumalanga police said they have arrested eight persons in connection to the disturbance without elaborating on what has been done to them or if they might be charged to court soon.
The spectre of a national shutdown has however in Mzansi for a while now, with thousands of messages flying on telegram and encouraging people to join in the shutdown. Recent events suggest that those messages haven’t gone to waste, after all.
With the police pushing against the blockade and opening up the roads, normalcy is beginning to return. But how long will it last? Elsewhere, South Africans are bawling that they’re fed up with President Cyril Ramaphosa and apologizing to former president Jacob Zuma for forcing him out of power.
