The SAPS have confirmed the arrest of two more suspects linked to the torching of more than 21 trucks last week.This has brought the number of arrests to five.
According to a police report, the fifth suspect was detained in Limpopo.
The latest arrest comes hot on the heels of other arrests in Mpumalanga and KZN.
Police spokesperson brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrests on Saturday.
“Two more suspects have been arrested for the torching of trucks. One was arrested in Mpumalanga and the other in Limpopo. Five suspects have been arrested thus far. Police are confident that they are closing in on the ring leaders behind these acts of criminality.
On Wednesday, Police Minister Bheki Cele said the police had identified at least 12 people of interest in the matter with Mathe saying police will be making more arrests.
“We are still hot on the heels of those behind these attacks. Our investigations are pointing us in the direction of KZN where we do believe that these ring leaders are. It is just a matter of time until we closed in on these suspects,” Mathe said.
Last week roads in the country became a battleground for freight companies and truckers who said they are living in fear, as they could be become victims of truck attacks.
Mpumalanga and KZN as well as Limpopo have been at the centre of truck torching which began after six trucks were set alight on the N3 near Van Reenen’s Pass in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
These were followed by subsequent torchings in Limpopo and Piet Retief, Ermelo, and as well as on the N4, following the first incident in KZN on Sunday morning.
Earlier in the week, the police reported that a group of armed assailants carrying guns forced truck drivers out of their vehicles before setting their vehicles in an incident that sparked a wave of similar incidents in other provinces, including Limpopo and Mpumalanga.