The police have arrested two more people who are believed to be involved in the attacks on trucks in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.
Brig. Athlenda Mathe, police spokesperson, confirmed that the suspects were caught in Mpumalanga.
So far, four people have been arrested in Mpumalanga for their alleged involvement in the attacks, while another person has been arrested in Limpopo.
“The search for more suspects continues,” Mathe said.
Trucks have come under violent attacks across the country this week.
No less than 21 trucks were set on fire within days. In most cases, the truck drivers escaped the attacks unharmed and were not even robbed of their personal belongings.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele said earlier this week that they have identified 12 suspects who may be involved in the attacks.
“Evidence shows that (the attacks) are organized, coordinated and sophisticated operations that seek to undermine and sabotage the state,” he said.
Everest Wealth, a private investment and wealth management company, has already labeled the attacks as “economic sabotage”.
“Over the past few years, hundreds, if not thousands, of trucks have been targeted and either looted and damaged, or set on fire,” said Thys van Zyl, head of product development at Everest Wealth.
Van Zyl says that attacks of this nature not only cause delivery schedules to be disrupted, but also lead to truck owners suffering huge losses, transport companies eventually having to close their doors and insurance premiums to rise.
This while consumers will finally have to pay for the laugh.
The army is already in several provinces to assist the police, and the police have meanwhile set up roadblocks on numerous main routes and regular patrols are carried out on identified high-risk routes.
