Vehicle-spiking rears its head on the N4 outside Mbombela again

The N4 had been spared from tyre-spiking incidents for some time now since the last one.

But it seems criminals are back at it again as another incident recently occurred.

Wayne van Rooyen escaped being robbed as his car was spiked a few kilometres outside town on the N4 towards Alkmaar, on April 15 at 21:10. According to Van Rooyen, he must have driven over the spikes without noticing them in the dark.

“I did not see anything on the road and believe that whatever the criminals used was as dark as the tarred road. I noticed that I had a flat tyre, but as I was about to stop and check, one of the motorists driving behind me showed me not to stop.

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“He signalled that I should keep on driving and escorted me to a safer place. Upon checking what happened to my car, I realised that two tyres were flat, one in front and another in the back. The stranger assisted with changing the front wheel, but I had to drive with the other flat tyre to my house. My benefactor drove with me until I reached my home to ensure I was safe.”

Van Rooyen said he considered himself fortunate as he had been driving at high speed when he drove over the spikes, and could have had an accident.

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The spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Moeti Mmusi, said motorists need to drive with extra caution on this motorway, especially in the areas towards Mbombela.

“These criminals always change spots to target drivers and spike their wheels so they can rob them. Motorists must also try to miss objects on the road, especially at night. We are grateful that Van Rooyen was not harmed or robbed. If a car is spiked, do not stop, but continue to drive to a safer place and call the police or someone to assist.”