Staff Reporter
Unknown assailants have set ablaze at least five trucks on the R59 in the Free State between Parys and Sasolburg.
Police say they were notified of the attack just before 9pm on Saturday night and immediately rushed to the scene where some of the trucks and their goods had been reduced to ashes.
“. . . a complaint was received by Parys SAPS and Sasolburg SAPS of trucks that were set alight on the R59 road,” said provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele in a statement.
“On arrival they found that five trucks were already extinguished by the Fire Department from Sasolburg. It is alleged by the drivers that one truck was petrol-bombed and forced to stop,” he added.
Police say witnesses on the scene also claimed shots were fired at the other trucks forcing them to stop.
“The drivers fled into a nearby field and the other four other trucks were then set alight,” said Makhele in the statement.
The motive for the attack is not yet known and police are investigating.
No one has been arrested yet.
The truck drivers were treated for shock at Parys District Hospital.
In the last few days, about 20 trucks were reportedly petrol-bombed on the N3, R103, R23 and R550 freeways in separate attacks also by unknown perpetrators.
Some people in the trucking industry have described the attacks as “anarchy . . . economic terrorism and a threat to the livelihood of all South Africans”.
