KRIEL – A truck was set alight at Kriel last night, 4 November.
According to Brig Leonard Hlathi, Mpumalanga police spokesman, this truck was one of six set on fire last night.
A trucker was awaken by someone breaking the truck’ s window where he was parked in Hendrina.
He was ordered from the truck and then the suspect set on fire the blankets inside the vehicle.
Brig Hlathi said the truck driver saw seven other men join the arsonist.
The suspects reportedly fled the scene in a white Toyota Corolla when they noticed the police.
The cops gave chase, but the suspects escaped.
Another four trucks were also reportedly burnt in Arnot.
Brig Hlathi said an unknown man allegedly ordered a truck driver to remove all his belongings from his vehicle.
The suspect accused the truck driver of being among the people who continue to work while their peers are on strike. The truck was then set on fire.
This trucker also saw other trucks that were parked in the same queue were also on fire.
“The reports suggest that the trucks were queuing to deliver coal at Arnot Power Station,” Brig Hlathi said.
He stated that the estimated damage to all the trucks is about R5-million. No arrest have been made as yet.
Brig Hlathi said the police are investigating cases of malicious damage to property. He asked that anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects involved in the burning of the trucks, should come forward.
The public can contact the police on 10111 or annonymously call Crime Stop on 08600 10 111.
