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21 July 2023
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Hundreds of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers on truck torching prevention duty
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Over 800 SA National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel are on active duty in the wake of a truck torching bout that started on 9 July 2023. The deployment is in terms of the ongoing Operation Prosper which, according to the Joint Operations Division of the SANDF, provides for military support to internal safety and security operations.
In this instance, if previous deployments are any yardstick, soldiers will be responsible for guarding duties at potential flashpoints such as bridges over highways and providing perimeter security for police actions and operations.
The latest utilisation of military force in South Africa was made public by Department of Defence (DoD) Head of Communication (HOC) Siphiwe Dlamini in a single paragraph statement on Friday, 14 July 2023. No details on personnel numbers or deployment length were given.
This was clarified by SANDF Directorate Corporate Communication (DCC) in response to a defenceWeb inquiry. It has it the deployment of “over 800 personnel” are “approved for four weeks in six provinces” as opposed to four named in the Dlamini statement. DCC has it defence personnel are in Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West until 11 August 2023, if the stated deployment period is not extended.
Soldiers are reportedly at high risk areas including toll gates at Mooi River and Marianhill on the major road link between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal port city, Durban.
The recent truck torching of around two dozen trucks is attributed to a combination of factors, including the involvement of a truckers’ organisation sympathetic to former president Jacob Zuma and the xenophobic group Operation Dudula. South African truck drivers are unhappy about companies employing foreign drivers and this is a source of contention.
Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the burnings to date, although the masterminds behind the arson operations are still at large with 12 people of interest identified according to police minister Bheki Cele.
Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal
Six trucks were torched on the N3 Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal by a gang of armed men who forced the truck drivers to stop their trucks. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said at about 10pm on Saturday night, a gang of armed men forced six truck drivers to stop their trucks on Van Reenen’s Pass. “Van Reenen detectives are investigating a case of malicious damage to property.”
Naicker added that a large police deployment, including the public order policing unit, was monitoring the situation.
Thania Dhoogra, operations manager of N3 Toll Concession (N3TC), said, “Both the north and southbound carriageways have been reopened on the N3 Toll Route in the vicinity of Van Reenen’s Pass and traffic is slowly starting to flow following the mammoth clean-up and repair operation that was required after six trucks were set alight on Saturday night.”
Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association, said the association believed that the incident was a co-ordinated attack on the road freight sector. Both the specific spot on the N3, as well as the timing, were chosen to cause the ‘best’ outcome in terms of mayhem and disruption. A simple calculation of capital losses (assets and cargoes) of the six trucks destroyed to date amounts to anything between R18 to R60 million.”
“Those who attack the road leg of logistics supply chains need to understand that the long-term effects will bring greater destruction to employment levels, and will result in further job losses, as businesses and supporting sectors shrink and trade moves away from South Africa.”
“The immediate short-term losses will run into millions of rand (including cost of vehicles, cargo, personal effects, road damage, EMS response, delays in movement and shipping penalties), the long-term impact would be felt in terms of increased security costs into the cost of logistics, higher insurance premiums, higher toll fees, less freight movement through South Africa, closure of freight companies and loss of jobs.”
Sifiso Nyathi, of the All Truck Drivers’ Forum and Allied SA (ATDF ASA), said the incident had been brought to their attention but the forum had nothing to do with it. “We heard about the unfortunate incident, but this had nothing to do with us. This looks like an orchestrated act which we are not part of. We will continue our own fight for the employment of South African truck drivers.”
Mpumalanga Mbombela
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has reported that five trucks were torched on the N4 highway near Machadodorp in Mpumalanga on Sunday night, 9 July 2023. Of the five trucks, four were going uphill from Mbombela towards Machadodorp, while the fifth was travelling in the opposite direction, towards Mbombela. The trucks were burnt and caused massive destruction and loss for different trucking companies.
According to information received, it is alleged that two vehicles, a light delivery vehicle and a sedan with five occupants stopped the trucks, instructed the drivers to take their personal belongings before setting the trucks on fire.
Mpumalanga between Piet Retief and Ermelo
Four trucks were set alight on the N2 between Piet Retief and Ermelo. Police say the latest incident happened in the early hour of Wednesday morning, 12 July 2023. Police said one person suffered burn wounds when the four trucks were set were set alight.
They explained that a woman who was sleeping in one of the truck cabins was left inside while the vehicles were torched. She was rushed to the nearest medical facility.
This is the fourth incident where several trucks have been set alight in the past few days, bringing the number of torched trucks to 20. There have been separate incidents on the N2, N3 and N4 highways.
The latest four trucks were targeted by armed men and the drivers were told to leave their vehicles before the trucks were set alight.
The South African Police Service spokesperson in Mpumalanga Selvy Mohlala confirmed, "Three of them [trucks] are seriously burned and one is partially burned... It is alleged that people emerged from the grasses and approached the trucks with firearms, and instructed the drivers to get out of the trucks or otherwise they will burn them inside the trucks, the drivers then had no alternative but to leave the trucks and run away.”
Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga
Less than 24 hours after news broke of six trucks being torched on the N3 Van Reenen’s Pass in KZN, Mpumalanga police have confirmed that five trucks suffered the same fate on the N4 highway in the province.
“Five trucks were set alight yesterday evening at Waterval Boven and currently, we don’t know the motive for setting those particular trucks alight,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala. “Information at our disposal is that two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux bakkie and sedan, stopped those particular trucks before Waterval Boven tunnel and set them alight without telling the drivers what the motive was,” Mohlala said.
Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal
Two trucks were set alight at Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, 10 July 2023. This comes after least 15 trucks were torched in separate incidents over the weekend in three provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
The Truckers Association has called on truckers to find other ways of raising their grievances rather than torching trucks.
Truckers Association of South Africa President Mary Phadi said, “When we look back five years ago, this is how the grievances were presented to South Africa- from the truck drivers that raised their concerns. So, it could be how they will then again start to raise their grievances.”
Act of economic sabotage
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said she was gravely concerned about the torching of trucks on South African roads, describing the incidents as an “act of economic sabotage”. This comes after trucks ferrying goods were set alight recently in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
President Cyril Ramaphosa statement
President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the torching of trucks at the weekend, saying “I am concerned about these activities that take place which is like economic sabotage because burning trucks on the main artery of our country, in terms of the economy, is concerning. Of course, the police will follow up on that those behind this. We are going to ensure we go after those people who torched those trucks because it is not acceptable.”
Sources: Defence Web, EWN
In this instance, if previous deployments are any yardstick, soldiers will be responsible for guarding duties at potential flashpoints such as bridges over highways and providing perimeter security for police actions and operations.
The latest utilisation of military force in South Africa was made public by Department of Defence (DoD) Head of Communication (HOC) Siphiwe Dlamini in a single paragraph statement on Friday, 14 July 2023. No details on personnel numbers or deployment length were given.
This was clarified by SANDF Directorate Corporate Communication (DCC) in response to a defenceWeb inquiry. It has it the deployment of “over 800 personnel” are “approved for four weeks in six provinces” as opposed to four named in the Dlamini statement. DCC has it defence personnel are in Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West until 11 August 2023, if the stated deployment period is not extended.
Soldiers are reportedly at high risk areas including toll gates at Mooi River and Marianhill on the major road link between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal port city, Durban.
The recent truck torching of around two dozen trucks is attributed to a combination of factors, including the involvement of a truckers’ organisation sympathetic to former president Jacob Zuma and the xenophobic group Operation Dudula. South African truck drivers are unhappy about companies employing foreign drivers and this is a source of contention.
Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the burnings to date, although the masterminds behind the arson operations are still at large with 12 people of interest identified according to police minister Bheki Cele.
Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal
Six trucks were torched on the N3 Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal by a gang of armed men who forced the truck drivers to stop their trucks. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said at about 10pm on Saturday night, a gang of armed men forced six truck drivers to stop their trucks on Van Reenen’s Pass. “Van Reenen detectives are investigating a case of malicious damage to property.”
Naicker added that a large police deployment, including the public order policing unit, was monitoring the situation.
Thania Dhoogra, operations manager of N3 Toll Concession (N3TC), said, “Both the north and southbound carriageways have been reopened on the N3 Toll Route in the vicinity of Van Reenen’s Pass and traffic is slowly starting to flow following the mammoth clean-up and repair operation that was required after six trucks were set alight on Saturday night.”
Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association, said the association believed that the incident was a co-ordinated attack on the road freight sector. Both the specific spot on the N3, as well as the timing, were chosen to cause the ‘best’ outcome in terms of mayhem and disruption. A simple calculation of capital losses (assets and cargoes) of the six trucks destroyed to date amounts to anything between R18 to R60 million.”
“Those who attack the road leg of logistics supply chains need to understand that the long-term effects will bring greater destruction to employment levels, and will result in further job losses, as businesses and supporting sectors shrink and trade moves away from South Africa.”
“The immediate short-term losses will run into millions of rand (including cost of vehicles, cargo, personal effects, road damage, EMS response, delays in movement and shipping penalties), the long-term impact would be felt in terms of increased security costs into the cost of logistics, higher insurance premiums, higher toll fees, less freight movement through South Africa, closure of freight companies and loss of jobs.”
Sifiso Nyathi, of the All Truck Drivers’ Forum and Allied SA (ATDF ASA), said the incident had been brought to their attention but the forum had nothing to do with it. “We heard about the unfortunate incident, but this had nothing to do with us. This looks like an orchestrated act which we are not part of. We will continue our own fight for the employment of South African truck drivers.”
Mpumalanga Mbombela
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has reported that five trucks were torched on the N4 highway near Machadodorp in Mpumalanga on Sunday night, 9 July 2023. Of the five trucks, four were going uphill from Mbombela towards Machadodorp, while the fifth was travelling in the opposite direction, towards Mbombela. The trucks were burnt and caused massive destruction and loss for different trucking companies.
According to information received, it is alleged that two vehicles, a light delivery vehicle and a sedan with five occupants stopped the trucks, instructed the drivers to take their personal belongings before setting the trucks on fire.
Mpumalanga between Piet Retief and Ermelo
Four trucks were set alight on the N2 between Piet Retief and Ermelo. Police say the latest incident happened in the early hour of Wednesday morning, 12 July 2023. Police said one person suffered burn wounds when the four trucks were set were set alight.
They explained that a woman who was sleeping in one of the truck cabins was left inside while the vehicles were torched. She was rushed to the nearest medical facility.
This is the fourth incident where several trucks have been set alight in the past few days, bringing the number of torched trucks to 20. There have been separate incidents on the N2, N3 and N4 highways.
The latest four trucks were targeted by armed men and the drivers were told to leave their vehicles before the trucks were set alight.
The South African Police Service spokesperson in Mpumalanga Selvy Mohlala confirmed, "Three of them [trucks] are seriously burned and one is partially burned... It is alleged that people emerged from the grasses and approached the trucks with firearms, and instructed the drivers to get out of the trucks or otherwise they will burn them inside the trucks, the drivers then had no alternative but to leave the trucks and run away.”
Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga
Less than 24 hours after news broke of six trucks being torched on the N3 Van Reenen’s Pass in KZN, Mpumalanga police have confirmed that five trucks suffered the same fate on the N4 highway in the province.
“Five trucks were set alight yesterday evening at Waterval Boven and currently, we don’t know the motive for setting those particular trucks alight,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala. “Information at our disposal is that two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux bakkie and sedan, stopped those particular trucks before Waterval Boven tunnel and set them alight without telling the drivers what the motive was,” Mohlala said.
Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal
Two trucks were set alight at Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, 10 July 2023. This comes after least 15 trucks were torched in separate incidents over the weekend in three provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
The Truckers Association has called on truckers to find other ways of raising their grievances rather than torching trucks.
Truckers Association of South Africa President Mary Phadi said, “When we look back five years ago, this is how the grievances were presented to South Africa- from the truck drivers that raised their concerns. So, it could be how they will then again start to raise their grievances.”
Act of economic sabotage
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said she was gravely concerned about the torching of trucks on South African roads, describing the incidents as an “act of economic sabotage”. This comes after trucks ferrying goods were set alight recently in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
President Cyril Ramaphosa statement
President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the torching of trucks at the weekend, saying “I am concerned about these activities that take place which is like economic sabotage because burning trucks on the main artery of our country, in terms of the economy, is concerning. Of course, the police will follow up on that those behind this. We are going to ensure we go after those people who torched those trucks because it is not acceptable.”
Sources: Defence Web, EWN
