Jonathan Paoli
About 21 trucks have been robbed and set alight over the past few days in the provinces of KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
The first attack happened on Saturday night when Van Reenen’s Pass on the N3 in KZN had to be closed after six trucks were torched by several men who afterwards fled the scene.
The chief executive of the Road Freight Association, Gavin Kelly, said at the time of the incident, that the motive for the attack was unknown as the trucks were not looted, which could be an indication of something more at play than robbery.
Just over 24 hours later, five trucks were set alight on the N4 between the ZASM Tunnel at Waterval Boven, Emgwenya, and Waterval Onder in Mpumalanga. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux and a sedan, had stopped the trucks on the road just before midnight, instructed the drivers to get out and then set them alight.
The third incident occurred early Tuesday morning. Local police enforcement set up a manhunt for six suspects after three trucks were torched on the R547 Sekhukhune/Lydenburg Road in Limpopo.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that six men accosted a Scania truck driver en route to deliver chrome at a local mine, instructing the driver to block the road with his truck and climb out through a window. The suspects then allegedly burnt the truck, without robbing it.
Another incident happened last night in KZN on the N2 between eNseleni and Empangeni with three trucks being torched and the drivers escaping without injury.
Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, expressed confidence at the monitoring and security of trucking in the province: “We are using our high tech technology to monitor all strategic roads used by trucks entering or leaving Gauteng.”
Three additional trucks were set alight on the N2 between Ermelo and Piet Retief in Mpumalanga at 5am on Wednesday morning.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has released a statement condemning the attacks as “a barbaric act that must be dealt with” and that it “is very clear that the truck drivers are not safe at all in this country.”
Dianne Kohler Barnard, a DA MP said the opposition party will open a case against the truck attackers in terms of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA) and demand the conduction of a full and proper investigation into the recent attacks on trucks.
“Charging these economic terrorists in terms of the POCDATARA Act will send a strong message to any criminal intending to commit acts of sabotage such as these.” she stated.
Kohler Barnard went on to say that this recent increase in violence against trucks and truck drivers remains a “glaring indictment on our Police Service’s crime intelligence and senior management, which appear to have no solution on how to prevent these attacks.”
The National Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe was unable to confirm whether the attacks were linked or whether they were aimed at foreign nationals.
The South African Police Services(SAPS) held a media press briefing on Wednesday, where Minister of Police, Bheki Cele said that “these aren’t just random acts of criminality, but organised.” and furthermore, rejected reports of cases in Gauteng; “No targets on trucks have been reported in Free State and Gauteng.”
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Police Department spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa said a truck was pulling two trailers when the tyres on one of the trailers burst and caused the trailer to catch fire.Thepa said the incident had not been linked to the series of truck torchings around the country.
Thepa insisted that there were no links between these incidents and the unrest of July 2021. “The July 2021 unrest will not repeat itself. We’re a capable State that has learned from the past.” he said.
He said they are closing in on those responsible for these criminal acts. Twelve persons of interest have been identified through investigations and evidence collected and that all major routes have been secured and regular patrols are being conducted along identified high-risk routes.
While Cele said that “12 people from KZN, who are stationed in different locations, have been identified as the instigators behind the burning of the trucks. However, that’s all we can say for now about the matter as we continue with our investigation.”
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