WATCH: Motorists help themselves to oranges after Mozambican truck overturns
Truck carrying oranges overturns near White River after failing to climb a steep hill.
Pandemonium broke out at Ensumbeni near White River on Wednesday after a truck from Mozambique carrying oranges overturned.
The mini-truck reportedly failed to climb a steep ascent, rolled back and overturned on its side next to the road.
The driver was briefly trapped in the cabin but managed to get out and was not injured.
Motorists stopped at the scene, and a tow truck arrived to assist with the recovery.
During the recovery, it became clear that the oranges had to be removed from the vehicle to make it easier to tow.
The Mozambican driver, who asked not to be named, then asked motorists to take the oranges to clear the scene.
He said he bought the load of oranges from a farm at Letsitele near Tzaneen in Limpopo.
“Please help me. Take as many oranges as you can to clear the scene. The tow truck cannot remove my truck for as long as the oranges are still on board,” he said.
Motorists from various vehicles then started collecting the oranges, with those driving bakkies benefiting the most.
When Lowveld Media arrived at the scene, people were still clearing the oranges.
Shortly thereafter, a police van with two officers – a male and a female – arrived at the scene.
Without establishing what was happening, the male officer began harassing people collecting the oranges, including an elderly woman.
“Hey, stop looting. Take that plastic bag full of oranges back,” the officer ordered.
The truck driver is said to have intervened and explained to the officers that he had given motorists permission to take the oranges to ease the recovery process.
“The people are not looting but clearing the load so that the recovery process of the truck can be easy,” the driver said.
The officer refused to accept the explanation, took out his cellphone and started taking pictures of those collecting the oranges, while insulting people and causing delays to the recovery.
“Hey, move, move, move, I am in control of this scene, and nobody can tell me,” the officer shouted at the top of his voice.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo was contacted for comment regarding the conduct of the officer, who is believed to be stationed at Masoyi or White River. His response will be added once received.
