Police investigate sixth truck burning after attacks on Mpumalanga highways
Police are investigating six truck burnings on the N2 and N3 in Mpumalanga over two nights. No arrests were reported in Saturday’s update.
Police in Mpumalanga are investigating a sixth truck burning after an armed attack on the N2 on Friday night, following the torching of five trucks on the N3 a day earlier.
The latest incident happened about 15km from Piet Retief towards Pongola on 30 October. The driver escaped unharmed, according to the police account reported by The Citizen on Saturday.
Armed suspects allegedly stopped the truck at roadworks, stole the driver's cellphone and set the vehicle alight before fleeing. Police are investigating attempted murder, armed robbery and malicious damage to property.
Investigation spans two highways
In the earlier incident, five trucks were set alight near Grootvlei in the Gert Sibande District on Thursday evening, 29 October. Police opened an armed robbery case and five counts of malicious damage to property.
A driver travelling towards Villiers was allegedly confronted by armed men after approaching a stationary tanker. He escaped and sought help nearby.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said on Saturday that no arrests had been made, IOL reported. Additional resources had been sent to the affected areas, with detectives and Crime Intelligence officers working on the investigation.
The Saturday report did not establish that the same people carried out both attacks. Their motive remained unknown.