5 held for rocks on N1
2004-05-14 08:05
Vanderbijlpark - Bail was denied on Thursday to four men and a 15-year-old boy from Vanderbijlpark who allegedly packed rocks on the N1 highway near Grasmere toll plaza to cause accidents.
They also are alleged to have thrown stones at vehicles.
It is believed one of the men works for a tow-truck company and another has his own towing business. A third suspect is apparently a police reservist.
The latest arrests bring the total number of people held for attacks on vehicles to seven.
In the past 14 months, there have been 44 such attacks in the Grasmere toll-gate area.
The attacks include robbery, hijackings and rapes.
Bail was denied to Christopher Louis Gunter, 31, Herman Christopher Tesner, 19, Christo and Ryno van Rooyen, both 19, and the teenage boy. They were not asked to plead.
The five have been charged with attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
Case is 'too sensitive'
Tesner, the Van Rooyens and the youth live on the Louisrus smallholdings at Vanderbijlpark.
The youth will be kept in a place of safety until their court appearance on May 20.
Captain Maria Mazibuko of Vaal-Rand police said she was not able to give out details because the case was "too sensitive".
Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini, provincial police spokesperson, said on Thursday night he could not give details of the arrests because he couldn't contact investigating officer inspector K Fouche.
He believed claims that one of the men was a police reservist and worked in a radio-control room were untrue.
Nicole Martin of the South African Tow-Truck Association (Satra) said on Thursday that none of the suspects was registered with their organisation.
Satra chairperson André van der Merwe said he was horrified to hear of the arrest of "government officials" and two people connected with the tow-truck industry on allegations that they intentionally blockaded roads to cause accidents.
Two to appear for rape
He said Satra would do everything in its power to stop lawlessness in the industry and that it would take firm action against any of its members found guilty of such crimes.
Meanwhile, two other suspects are expected to appear in court on May 20 as well.
They are Jacob Gasper, 30, of Lenasia South and Daniel Tekerra, 27, of Ennerdale, who will appear on charges of raping a 46-year-old woman and her 14-year-old niece after a hijacking at the toll plaza on March 30.