Hundreds of workers fired by Mathomo textile factory went on the rampage on Friday.
The 736 workers were fired on Wednesday following their illegal strike on Tuesday.
Early on Friday the workers brought traffic to a standstill on the R63 to Alice, using rocks to blockade the busy road.
The workers were fired by Mathomo owner, businessman Kevin Schroeder, for refusing to go back to work after their unprotected strike action.
The strike action came after the firm reportedly placed 143 workers on a short time without pay or specified return date.
They issued a notice stating their intention to implement short time.
Schroeder said he started the business 16 years ago after former premier Nosimo Balindlela had approached him to create jobs in the town riddled by high unemployment.
He said his factory paid R62m a year to the 736 locals of poverty-stricken Dimbaza. “I have poured in R8m into that business of my own money during a tough period and I have told the workers that, guys, I cannot put in any more – the business has to stand on its own two feet.”
Workers’ representative Zoleka Dyasi said during a protest outside on Thursday that one reason for the strike was the firm’s refusal to recognize Numsa and Sactwu. He also said there were a number of unfair labour practices, but these were refuted.
Schroeder said the workers were producing at 60% of the national norm for textiles...