No end to Cape Town truck attacks
2012-10-11 21:27
Johannesburg - At least eight trucks were attacked and set alight in Cape Town on Thursday, police said.
In Bellville, two truck drivers were slightly injured when they jumped out of their burning trucks.
"Reports indicate that they were sitting inside the trucks when unknown suspects threw unidentified objects into their vehicles, which set the vehicles on fire," said Captain FC Van Wyk.
A PicknPay truck was set alight in Strandfontein.
The driver and a passenger were sitting in the vehicle after stopping to repair a puncture.
Three men ordered them to get out of the vehicle, which was then stoned and set alight.
"The three men fled towards Muizenberg in a cream Toyota sedan, registration number is unknown," said Van Wyk.
A bread delivery truck was also set alight in Philippi. The driver ran away from the scene.
Four passengers were injured when their truck was attacked and set alight in Athlone.
In Strand, a petrol-bomb was thrown into a truck transporting toilet paper.
In Gugulethu, a group of people threw stones at a truck and then set it alight. The driver escaped unharmed.
No one was arrested and separate cases of arson, public violence and malicious damaged to property were being investigated.
"There is a possibility that the violence is related to the truck drivers' strike."
Van Wyk said five "prominent" SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union leaders had been arrested for convening an illegal meeting.
"They were arrested for convening a gathering for which no notice was given at Borchards Quarry, Nyanga. They will appear in the Philippi Magistrate's Court soon," he said.
- SAPA
