DURBAN - About 100 vehicles belonging to KwaZulu-Natal driving school operators embarked on a drive-slow on the N3 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
This caused a partial shutdown of the N3 and caused a traffic backlog on the national highway while the operators were en route to the KZN premier’s office in Pietermaritzburg.
The operators want to raise concerns over Covid-19 relief funds, proper testing grounds, and the Department of Education’s suggestion that pupils have their learner's licence done in schools.
Gemini Driving School representative DK Maharaj said they needed recognition from the KZN Department of Transport.
“We need funding and proper training facilities so that we can train people in a proper manner. We train people in areas not conducive to driving and then we expect them to drive on proper roads. We need the government to intervene,” he said.
Near the Mariannhill Toll Plaza, Public Order Police units arrived on the scene and clashed with the driving school owners. The operators allegedly overheard one police officer calling them the “P” word.
Ayanda's Driving School representative Khanyo Dzanibe said the police officer allegedly used vulgar language when he told the other officers to move the protesters.
“We have the right and permission to do this. This is the jobs that put food on the table in our households. He cannot just come here call us names for fighting for what is rightfully ours. He cannot speak to us anyhow while we do respect him and his uniform,” said Dzanibe.
Daily News