Nine people linked to the torching of trucks along national freeways have been identified in KZN and taken in for questioning, reports TimesLIVE.

This was revealed by KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who said it was unclear whether the nine are part of the group of 12 people mentioned by Police Minister Bheki Cele.

Cele told journalists on Wednesday that a dozen people of interest had been identified in relation to the burning of 21 trucks on the N3, N2 and N4 in the past week.

In KZN, nine trucks were set alight at the N3 at Van Reenen’s Pass, the N11 and the N2 in eMpangeni, and a driver was shot after he refused to leave his truck.

Police revealed that cases of armed robbery, malicious damage to property and attempted murder are under investigation.

‘It is disturbing that since 2018 police are investigating 107 cases relating to the torching of trucks. As the provincial executive council, we have received a comprehensive report on the work being done, including progress on investigations, deployment of law enforcement agencies and intelligence-gathering work,’ said Dube-Ncube yesterday. 

She said the security cluster would engage the Department of Justice to set up a special court ‘to deal with these matters as they are considered urgent and tantamount to economic sabotage’.

Dube-Ncube said additional deployments including soldiers would be sent to strategic routes.

Full TimesLIVE report