The R59 highway between Parys and Sasolburg was an inferno of destruction on Saturday night after criminals bombarded five heavy vehicles with petrol bombs and set them on fire.
According to Brigadier Motantsi Makhele of the police in the Free State, the first vehicle was hit by a petrol bomb around 20:30 and forced to stop. Four more heavy vehicles were then forced to a standstill one by one and set on fire. The truck drivers sought refuge in the field against the attackers, who allegedly shot at their vehicles. The incident took place about 13 km outside Sasolburg.
Sasolburg’s fire brigade and other support services were quickly on the scene and put out the fires, but none of the vehicles could be rescued. The truck drivers were transported to the district hospital in Parys later that night, where they were treated for shock.
Vaalweekblad was able to establish that one of the trucks belonged to Anton le Roux Transport of George and was on its way from the Cape to Gauteng, while another vehicle, which belonged to Mr. Thulo John Matli of MooiMan Transportation belongs, came from Kroonstad.
Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the arsonists is asked to contact Detective Adjutant Officer Freddie Nel on 083 756 7977 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Mr. Rassie van Greunen’s heavy vehicle was set on fire on the R59 highway near the Blokhuis on Saturday night. That was after the attackers shot his vehicle driver five times
In a separate incident, a truck belonging to Mr. Rassie van Greunen was also destroyed on Saturday night on the R59 highway between Alberton and the Blockhouse near Meyerton. The truck was set on fire by the criminals and the truck was also shot at. Mr. Van Greunen’s truck driver was hit by five bullets. During Vaalweekblad’s downtime, he was in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of a Rand hospital.
* On Thursday evening, two days before the incidents on the R59 highway, nine trucks were also destroyed by flames on the N3 route near Heidelberg. The attackers apparently blocked the road with a sedan vehicle and a minibus and forced the heavy vehicles to stop. The trucks were then bombarded with petrol bombs and burned out along with the trailers. According to police spokesperson Mavela Masonda, the motive for the arson is unknown and anyone with information is being appealed to go and make police statements.
Truck drivers of all races have said on the Facebook group, SA Long-distance Truckers, in recent days, that they feel extremely unsafe and would prefer that their employers suspend all driving for at least a week. Some heavy vehicle drivers believe the EFF is behind the attacks to sow anarchy and hurt the country’s economy, while others believe it is aimed at truck drivers from neighboring countries who are illegally in S.A. work. However, it appears that heavy vehicles were attacked in front of the foot without regard to the race or nationality of the vehicle owner or driver.
