South African police have launched an investigation into two separate incidents of truck arson in Mpumalanga, which have raised concerns about potential disruptions to the N3 highway ahead of next week's local government elections. A multidisciplinary task team comprising detectives and Crime Intelligence officers has been established to investigate the attacks. The incidents occurred on Thursday and Friday evenings, with a total of six trucks set alight.
The first incident occurred on Thursday evening on the N3 near Grootvlei, where five trucks were set alight by armed suspects. The suspects allegedly stopped a truck driver, pointed firearms at him, and set the truck alight using a five-litre container of petrol. The driver escaped and sought help from nearby people. The estimated value of one truck tractor unit was R3.2 million, while two trailers were valued at a combined R350 000.
Police have opened a case of armed robbery and five counts of malicious damage to property in connection with the first incident. No injuries were reported, but two drivers could not immediately be located, and efforts to establish their whereabouts were continuing. The police are working to determine the motive behind the attacks and have not announced any link to the elections.
A second incident occurred on Friday evening on the N2, about 15 km from Piet Retief towards Pongola, where a sixth truck was torched by armed suspects. The suspects allegedly stopped the truck at a section undergoing roadworks, robbed the driver of his cellphone, and set the vehicle alight before fleeing. The driver escaped unharmed. Police are investigating attempted murder, armed robbery, and malicious damage to property in connection with that incident.
The incidents have sparked concerns about potential disruptions to the N3 highway, a critical route for freight and logistics, ahead of the local government elections. According to a senior police official in northern KwaZulu-Natal, SAPS is on high alert for attempts to destabilize the country before the elections. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola assessed KZN's election readiness on Friday.
Cachalia said police had spent several weeks developing operational plans across the provinces to ensure peaceful, free, and fair elections on November 4. The police are working to ensure peace and security across the country. The public is urged to provide any information that may assist in the investigation, with a Crime Stop hotline and anonymous tip submission available.
The police have not made any arrests in connection with the incidents and are continuing their investigation. The motive behind the attacks remains unclear. The incidents have caused significant damage and disruption, with the estimated value of the damaged trucks and trailers being substantial.
Key points
- Police are searching for suspects who torched six trucks in Mpumalanga, sparking fears of N3 disruptions ahead of local government elections.
- A multidisciplinary task team has been established to investigate the attacks, with police working to determine the motive behind the incidents.
- The incidents have raised concerns about potential disruptions to the N3 highway, a critical route for freight and logistics, ahead of the local government elections.
