The alleged arsonist caught on dash-cam footage setting trucks alight near Piet Retief yesterday, was caught this morning, signalling a breakthrough for police in establishing a motive for the cross-border attacks.

Nelson Khulekani Shongwe is facing three charges of malicious damage to property after a tip-off led police to his doorstep.

He was arrested around 01:00 this morning on the farm Lunerberg, outside Piet Retief.

Acsu Security assisted Sheepmoor detectives in tracking, and apprehending Shongwe.

The devastating blitzkrieg on trucks by arsonists, gives more credence to the existence of a “mining-mafia” operating in the country, after police confirmed that the 21 trucks destroyed up to now, have been transporting either coal or chrome.

Attacks, whereby arsonists follow almost the exact modus operandi, by forcing truck drivers from their vehicles, often taking the Identity Documents, and then setting the truck cabins alight, have been reported in Mpumalanga, KZN and Limpopo.

Police thanked the tipster whose actions led to the breakthrough.

More arrests are expected.