Truck burned near Machadodorp tunnel causes traffic standstill
There were no signs of any protest actions near the main road.
Users of the N4 were delayed for hours this morning as the Elands Valley Road between the tunnel and Waterval Boven was closed due to a burning truck.
Travellers waited patiently for over three hours before the road was cleared around 07:30.
Rumours are that the truck was burned by protesters in the area, however, eyewitnesses said there had been no people on the scene.
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“We only saw people who were in their work uniforms waiting for their transport,” said a truck driver, Nicco Nkosi.
Motorists had by then been advised to use the Schoemanskloof route.
Col Donald Mdhluli, the spokesperson for the police, said, “Indeed, a truck that was coming from Mbombela towards Machadodorp was found in flames by members of the SAPS at Waterval Boven. However, by the time this response was made, no case opened in this regard had been opened.”
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The cause of the fire is not known.
Mdhluli confirmed that there were no protesters when the police arrived at the scene.
Several roads were blockaded with stones in Machadodorp, allegedly by locals demanding the release of their councillor who was arrested in connection with the assault of a police officer. The police were monitoring the situation.
