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A freight company owner from KwaZulu-Natal, who has been running a lucrative transportation business for 20 years, has been left on the brink of collapse due to the ongoing coordinated attacks on the freight industry. The truck owner, who has been running the business for 20 years, has been cringing due to the unfavorable economic conditions in the country. The latest onslaught on the industry could not have come at the worst time for his business, and he is terrified of victimization.
Glen Naidoo, the head of security firm KZN VIP Protection Unit, told Sowetan that previously when trucks were torched, some business entities hired private companies to ensure the protection of their vehicles, but that hasn't happened in the latest attacks. Businesses are terrified but don't think they can afford it financially. He said because of finances. Companies were left vulnerable.
Police minister Bheki Cele announced that 12 people of interest had been identified through investigation and intelligence collection. He said evidence pointed to "organized, coordinated, and sophisticated operations that seek to undermine and sabotage the state." In KZN, nine trucks were attacked since Sunday, and six trucks along the Van Reenen's Pass were burnt Sunday night. KZN police are investigating a case of armed robbery, malicious property damage, and attempted murder. Detectives assigned to the patients are closely following up on leads and continue to gather and study all evidence at their disposal.
The minister also said there was no evidence that the recent truck attacks were linked to the 2021 July unrest. He said there was a plan of action already underway, and the country's law enforcement remained on high alert and working at preventing more attacks but also finding individuals or gangs hell-bent on causing havoc on our roads.
Cele said he had conducted a high-level meeting with the commissioners of the affected provinces, and they are closing in on the perpetrators. He has roped in the services of the national defense force and started monitoring hotspots in the northern KZN area. All major routes have been secured, and patrols are being conducted on high-risk routes.
State intelligence has learned from the lessons of the July 2021 unrests and is implementing the recommendations of a high-level panel report. The National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee has been meeting on this issue, and there is expected to be no repeat of July 2021.
