The recent protests in Bushbuckridge and Acornhoek had serious consequences for local resident Mr Larry Ireland, when he was travelling in that area on February 27.
Ireland was driving from Plaston to a nursery in Letsitele, near Tzaneen, in a truck towing a trailer with a combined load of 18 tons of saligna wood stakes at around 17:15.
About 10km out of Bushbuckridge, protesters were blockading the road with tyres with the intent to set them alight. The drivers of two vehicles in front of Ireland noticed the obstruction and slammed on brakes.
Ireland followed suit, but due to a light drizzle the truck started sliding on the wet road surface and the trailer swerved from side to side.
In an attempt to avoid colliding with the cars in front of him Ireland hit a tree next to the road. The trailer barrelled past, swinging the truck in the opposite direction, unhooked and flipped over leaving its load scattered all over the road.
Police officers, who were positioned nearby to keep an eye on the protesters, arrived on the scene soon after. They were forced to fire shots to keep protesters from looting the truck.
The road had to be closed for some time while the trailer was removed and the stakes cleared up. Ireland organised for workers to move them and a towing company to recover the trailer.
He only sustained cuts and bruises but said the truck and trailer would require extensive repairs.
