Durban - It is alleged that a truck carrying alcohol was petrol-bombed on the N1 De Doorns in an effort to derail it and then loot it on Tuesday.
A short video clip posted on social media shows people looting the truck, which is resting in the emergency lane with its front on the road.
From the five-second video, it appears that there is some smoke rising from the front.
According to Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works head of communications Jandre Bakker, the incident happened on May 10, 2022, and as far as he knew, the truck caught alight which could be from a multitude of different reasons.
“The matter was recorded by SAPS so SAPS should be contacted for comment.”
When contacted for comment on the matter the truck company said: “We (are) not giving out any details as it is classified.”
Information the publication has is that the incident took place on Monday on the N1/3 Veldskoen farm between De Doorns and Touws River where the vehicle was alight.
It is alleged that when the truck caught alight the driver jumped out of the burning cab.
The incident led to both lanes on N1 between Touws River and De Doorns being closed.
Reacting on Facebook, Menzi Myeni EMkhuze wrote: “All this just for alcohol, where have people’s self-dignity and morals gone.”
This was while JS Nkutha shared the view that the country, under the ANC government, is out of hand.
At the moment, details are sketchy, and it is unclear what became of the truck driver. Those reacting to the video voiced their concerns about the driver’s safety amidst the chaos.
S'pHer Kat Ntuli wrote that the action could be a result of unemployment but Ntombi Noxy Tshabalala argued that was not a good enough reason.
“So unemployment makes people steal alcohol? Ppl must be arrested simple.”
Brarh-k Vällërh Mtïärh echoed Tshabalala’s sentiments saying: “But in the end, the law must run and take its course.”
In November 2019 a similar scene played out again on the N1 in De Doorns, this time it was alleged that looters that morning stoned cars and looted abandoned freight cars.
Again videos of this were shared on social media and at the time it was alleged that the group unleashing the chaos were disgruntled farmworkers from the area.
In May of the same year, the Sowetan reported that schoolchildren were among looters who raided a truck on the same stretch of road after the driver was hit by a rock thrown from a footbridge.
Police were yet to comment.
Daily News