JOHANNESBURG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- South African police said Tuesday that two trucks were burnt Monday night by unknown armed men in KwaZulu-Natal Province, bringing to more than 15 the number of trucks burnt within a week.
A group of armed men attacked and robbed the drivers of two trucks on a queue along the N2 freeway near Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal around 10 p.m., local time, Monday. The drivers were then forced out before the trucks were set alight, said Jay Naicker, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal police.
This follows the burning of at least 15 trucks since Saturday night by armed people in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces with unknown motives.
"This is criminality that will not be tolerated. These criminals are committing an act of economic sabotage, which must attract the harshest penalties permissible in law," Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga said Tuesday, adding that the law enforcement authorities are working with the Road Traffic Management Corporation to maintain maximum vigilance and bring perpetrators to book.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has also condemned the burning of trucks, saying it was reminiscent of the events that took place leading up to the July 2021 unrest, according to local media. ■