Truck burned near Ingogo, following six others on Van Reenen's Pass

Chaos erupted over the weekend, with numerous trucks being set alight in the early hours of Sunday morning, 9 July 2023.

Click here to visit our website. *PAID ADVERTISING* A truck was set alight on the N11, Amajuba Pass between Newcastle and Volksrust in the vicinity of Ingogo, while six more were set along Van Reenen’s Pass.

As emergency personnel worked to extinguish the flames, traffic flow was severely impacted with the road being closed for a large portion of the day.

An official police source from Newcastle SAPS explained that local law enforcement was investigating the truck which was burned down on the N11. However, he could not confirm if the truck was hijacked prior to it being set alight or was linked to the incident on the Van Reenen’s Pass.

Moreover, the South African Police Service (SAPS) provided details on the incident along Van Reenens Pass, explaining that it unfolded when a gang of six armed men forced truck drivers to stop their vehicles on the popular road.

“They then set all six trucks alight, causing the roadway to be closed to traffic. No injuries were reported,” stated the SAPS.

Law enforcement is currently investigating the motive behind the attack, treating it as a case of Malicious Damage to Property. Van Reenen Detectives are actively involved in the ongoing investigations.

Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association (RFA), expressed his concern regarding the incident, characterising it as a coordinated 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,” remarked Kelly. He emphasised that the road freight sector, responsible for transporting 80% of goods within and around South Africa, plays a crucial role in international trade utilising South African ports.

“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,” explained Kelly.

He further noted that the immediate short term losses will run into millions of Rands (including the cost of vehicles, cargo, personal effects, road damage, EMS response, delays in movement, and shipping penalties).

The long term impact will be felt in terms of increased security costs into the cost of logistics, higher insurance premiums, higher SARIA cover premiums, higher toll fees, less freight movement through South Africa, closure of freight companies, and loss of jobs: the list continues.

“Depending on the category of vehicle, the type, and value of the cargo, the specialised equipment required for the cargo: this can be anywhere between R3 to R10 million. A simple calculation of capital losses (assets and cargoes) of the six trucks destroyed to date amounts to anything between R18 to R60 million,” said Kelly.

These losses encompass assets, cargo, personal effects, road damage, emergency response costs, delays, and shipping penalties.

Kelly additionally highlighted the precision and planning behind the attack, noting that there was no intention of looting the vehicles or stealing the cargo.

The targeted nature of the incident raises concerns about the unknown individuals or groups responsible for the assault.

As the attack on trucks poses a threat to South African communities and raises unanswered questions, we invite you to share your thoughts on this in the comment section below.