Africa-Press – Eswatini. Over E3.6 million damage was incurred at Pigg’s Peak Town Council after two front loaders (TLB) and one tractor were burnt in an arson attack where the security was also hacked with a bushknife in the head.
The incident is said to have happened at around midnight on Wednesday where five men pounced at the Pigg’s Peak Town Council’s landfill site where the heavy plant machinery was parked.
The men are said to have used a petrol bomb to set the machinery alight after attacking and hacking the guard who had to be rushed to hospital due to the injuries.
According to a source, one of the arsonists was heard shouting and asking for directions pretending to be lost.
The guard was said to have responded to investigate where the man was from at that time of the night when the others suddenly appealed and started to burn the machinery on site without uttering a word.
The guard is said to have tried to stop them but they hacked him in the head with a bushknife before disappearing into the dark.
Fire
“He called his supervisor to alert him of what had happened. Fire and Emergency Services personnel came to the scene where they tried to put out the fire. However, it was late as the fire had extensively consumed the machinery and the garage where it was parked,” said the source.
The guard was also rushed to hospital where he was treated, said the source.
Among the machinery was a TLB that was purchased by the council a few months ago. Pigg’s Peak Town Council Chief Executive Officer, Mzwandile Ndzinisa, said the damage was estimated to be approximately over E3.6 million. Ndzinisa said he received a call from informing him that the town council’s heavy plant machinery was on fire.
“The TLBs were mainly used for road maintenance purposes while the tractor is used for waste skips transportation. The burning of the heavy plant will negatively impact service delivery in the town,” Ndzinisa said. He said the matter was reported to the ministry of housing and urban development, which would guide them on the way forward.
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