‘As dit pap reën, dan staan hulle met bakkies’

Late on Sunday afternoon, a truck carrying 25-kilogram bags of maize meal overturned on the R34 at Lentevlei, approximately 15 kilometers from Newcastle.

Traffic was obstructed in both directions for a few hours as emergency services worked to move the truck that was lying across both lanes.

Bystanders made off with the large bags of mealie meal, some even pulling their vehicles up to the smashed truck to load boots and bakkies full.

Another bystander was overheard saying: ‘As dit pap reën dan staan hulle met bakkies.’

The driver of the truck escaped serious injury. He sustained a fractured collarbone and minor cuts and bruises. ER24 Newcastle transported him to Madadeni Provincial Hospital for further treatment.

The cause of the incident is still being investigated and it is not known why the driver lost control of the vehicle.