A late night drive home on the highway, on Wednesday, left a journalist from the GCN’s sister paper, Alberton Record, furious.
As Jacobus Myburgh took the off-ramp from the N3 highway onto the M2 highway in Germiston, he noticed something in the middle lane.
“My mother, Wilma, had just fetched my from the airport as I had arrived on a late flight from Port Elizabeth, and it was about 11pm,” Myburgh said.
“I saw what looked like a plastic bag in the lane and drove over it, as I wasn’t able to swerve out to avoid it.
“However, it was actually a strategically placed rock in a plastic bag.”
Although the damage caused to Myburgh’s vehicle did not appear too serious when he stopped to check it on the highway, he has noticed that the car has developed a number of oil leaks and will have to be taken in for repairs.
“As a journalist I am dependent on having a vehicle, and these guys could have made life really difficult for me if my car was extensively damaged,” he said.
While he left Wilma to continue to assess the damage, he made his way back along the highway to warn other motorists of the rock.
“By the time I got there, two more cars had hit the rock and been damaged,” Myburgh said.
“As I picked up the rock I noticed one of the ‘rock placers’ on the side of the road, looking very annoyed and angry that I was removing the rock and was not just going to place it on the side of the road, but was taking it with me.
“I also informed the other drivers that a man was lurking on the side of the road and that he could possibly be the one who placed the rocks.
“It is clear that this rock must have been used on several occasions, as it has spilled motor oil and several ‘crash’ marks to it.”
Myburgh told the GCN that the area is not very well lit so it is difficult to see things placed in the lanes timeously.
He warned other motorists to be aware of the ”rock placers” on that stretch of the highway.
The GCN ran a recent article warning people to be aware of the criminal activities taking place on the N3 and M2 highways.
The incidents are reportedly taking place in and around the Geldenhuys Interchange.
“The Germiston police warn motorists using these freeways to be vigilant while driving,” said WO André de Jager, spokesman for the Germiston police.
“The suspect and/or suspects will place big rocks in a bag and leave the bag in a lane on the highway and then wait for an unsuspecting victim to drive over the rocks.
“When the victim stops the vehicle to check for damage, the suspect and/or suspects will then threaten them with a firearm and rob them of their personal belongings and cellphones.”
The community is urged to call the police when they are faced with incidents such as this.
The police can be contacted on 071 675 6854 or 071 675 6855.
Motorists can also call 10111.
Related articles:
Rocks puncture vehicle’s tyres on N3
Criminals behind the rocks on the N3
