Africa-Press – South-Africa. The five men arrested for allegedly torching trucks also stand accused of attempting to kill a truck driver.
The attempted murder charge stems from the men throwing petrol bombs at the truck.
The men allegedly assaulted the truck driver, Bhongolwethu Bhongo Dayimani, and attempted to take a trailer containing chrome valued at R3 million.
Nelson Khulekani Shongwe, 29, Sibusiso Emmanuel Mthethwa, 38, Fundile Albeta Mpondo, 41, Mafika William Sibande, 61, and Nkosingiphile Nkosikhona Gumede, 27, made a brief appearance in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
They face charges of attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, malicious damage to property, conspiracy to commit a crime of malicious property damage, and possessing a firearm.
The five covered their faces with beanies during proceedings.
The men informed the court they would appoint private attorneys.
They also claimed they were assaulted by the police.
The magistrate, Luzile Msimango, said a message would be sent to SAPS to allow the accused to get medical attention.
Twenty-one trucks were set alight over the past week across three provinces.
According to the charge, three accused – Mthethwa, Mpondo and Gumede are from KwaZulu-Natal – while Shongwe and Sibande are from Mpumalanga.
According to the charge sheet, on 12 July, near Sheepmoor, the accused unlawfully and intentionally damaged trucks worth millions of rands.
It said they unlawfully and intentionally conspired with fellow truck driver forum members to damage trucks transporting goods on the N2, near Kinross.
Mpumalanga’s Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe, who attended proceedings on Monday, praised law enforcement for the speedy arrests.
“They have done a very good job, and I know for a fact that the five are not the last. It can’t be only the five; we are looking for more.
“In every action and move, there is a thinker behind that, and I must say it is highly possible that there are people behind this thing.”
Shongwe said the provincial government had quarterly meetings with transport companies, during which concerns were raised and ideas shared.
“They have a few issues that they have raised which they think might assist the police in terms of investigation because they know some of these drivers.
“Those that they have dismissed from their companies, they know them, [and] they can assist us better,” Shongwe said.
He said they had not been able to establish which trucking companies the five men worked for, adding that “we are only worried about their acts”.
Shongwe assured South Africans that the main routes were safe to use.
The matter was postponed to 27 July.
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