GSDF spokesman Simhoy Dlamini confirmed on Friday that soldiers have been deployed in the four provinces to help police protect trucks and roads.
They were sent to hotspots, including the N3 gates at Mooi River and Marianhill. This comes in the wake of the burning of 21 trucks since Sunday, July 9 the second anniversary of the July 2021 unrest. This fueled speculation that this was the motive behind the attacks.
Police Minister Becky Seeley quickly dismissed the idea, saying: There was no evidence linking These incidents of riots in July.
According to Seeley, the intelligence indicates that the truck attacks may be work related, rather than random criminal acts. Evidence points to coordinated and sophisticated operations aimed at undermining and sabotaging the state.
The minister emphasized that whether it is economic sabotage or disputes related to the provision of services, the police are closing in on the perpetrators.
In a single attack, the o’clock Van Rienen Pass In the early hours of Sunday, the N3, a major artery in South Africa’s economy, was closed for several hours.
The incidents are also a potential embarrassment to the government, which is hosting the 41st Annual Transport Conference for Southern Africa in Pretoria, which was It was opened by the Minister of Transport Chikunga is saved.
“hot on the heels”
According to the National Police Commissioner, General Fanny Masimula, the network is closing in on those behind the attacks.
The police were “hot on the heels” of the ringleaders. “Either they turn themselves in, or we bring them in ourselves.”
But Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association, He has no confidence In the ability of the police to curb the attacks.
Meanwhile, three suspects are expected to appear in court on Monday, July 21 for property damage. More arrests involving ringleaders are imminent, according to National Police spokesperson Brigadier General Atlinda Matthey.
A multidisciplinary team investigating the attacks made its first arrests in Mpumalanga on Thursday morning.
According to Mathi, two men, aged 29 and 27, were arrested at their residence – one on a farm in Beit Retief, with the help of a private security company, and the other in Ermelo. A third suspect was arrested in Imalini, Mpumalanga on Wednesday night. DM
Attacks collapse
- KwaZulu-Natal: Nine trucks have been attacked since Sunday 9 July. In the first incident, six were set on fire on Van Rheenen’s driveway on Sunday night. One of the drivers refused to stop when approached by armed men who opened fire on the truck. The driver managed to get away unharmed. One lorry was burned on the N11 in Engogo, and two were set on fire on the N2 in Empangeni, where the drivers were robbed by gunmen on Monday, 10 July; And
- Mpumalanga: Nine trucks were set on fire, the latest being in the early hours of this morning between Ermelo and Shipmore where four trucks were attacked and set on fire. Five trucks were set on fire and attacked on Sunday evening on the N4 motorway near Waterval Boven.
LimpopoIn the early hours of Monday, 10 July, three trucks heading to the local chrome mine along the R577 between Lydenburg and Sikhon in Limpopo were attacked and burned by six armed men.