According to Obed Sibasa, the Spokesperson for Gauteng Traffic Police, motorists must be especially vigilant when driving on the N12 West past Lenasia at night.
He says that there were several confirmed cases of vehicles wheels being punctured by what authorities believe to be spikes placed in the roads by criminals on the night of Friday 14 October.
“Several people also complained of huge rocks being placed on the fast lane of the freeway and rocks being thrown from the bridges during the past week. Unsuspecting motorists who stopped to inspect the damage are then attacked and assaulted. Some have even been killed,” Sibasa warns.
He says that although the same problems occurred in the past it has, until last weekend, been relatively quiet.
The part of the N12 that is being targeted is just after the “death bend” after you pass the bridge of the N1.
Other dangerous freeways are the N1 between Mpumalanga, Tshwane and Polokwane, the N1 between Tshwane and Mpumalanga, the N4 between Tshwane and Mpumalanga, the N4 between Tshwane and Northwest, the Mabopane Highway, the R21 between Centurion and the OR Tambo International Airport.
“We advise motorists not to stop when they hit spikes or have a puncture on a freeway. Our tips are to avoid driving at night or when it is dark. Do not stop, but rather immediately call for help at 112 or 08 600 10111 or drive slowly to a place of safety such as a garage or the rearrest police station,” Sibasa warns
He says that the Gauteng Traffic Police have deployed their law enforcement unit after last weekend’s cases and plan to arrest the perpetrators soon.
Motorists must meanwhile also be careful on the R500 between Carletonville and the N14 and the N14 close to Klerkskraal Dam as hijackings have occurred on these roads during the past two weeks.
