According to Metro police, about 45 striking truck drivers were arrested in Gauteng on Thursday.

“Charges include illegal marching… and public disturbance. It resulted in a serious accident that occurred an hour ago,” said spokesperson Chief Bufaphi Nxumalo.

“We are still going to continue arresting them, especially if they are disturbing the public and marching without permission.”

The R21 and R24 highways near OR Tambo International Airport were blocked off due to striking drivers throwing stones, petrol bombs and setting trucks on fire. The highways were re-opened early on Thursday afternoon.

There have been several injuries since the strike started on Monday as a result of the violence and aggression.

Three people were injured early on Thursday morning near the R21 due to drivers throwing stones and bricks at working truck drivers who were not part of the strike.

Ekurhuleni EMS spokesperson Rogers Mamaila said a truck driver not on strike broke his leg following an accident caused by striking drivers on Thursday morning.

He said the truck was on Voortrekker Road, travelling away from OR Tambo International Airport around 08:45 when striking drivers began throwing stones and bricks at the truck.

In attempting to avoid them, the man overturned the truck, which caught fire.

“The… incidents of strikers is so spread out, we might not know about all incidents. I know private ambulances have been attending [to] others,” said Mamaila.

SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) spokesperson Vincent Masoga said the union were still investigating reports of violence in Ekurhuleni.