Coal truck petrol bombed in Mtubatuba

Mtubatuba mayor, Cllr Velangenkosi Gumede, has appealed to local residents to refrain from criminal activities, rather using correct channels to raise grievances.

This after a truck was petrol bombed by three unknown men last Thursday night.

The truck was carrying coal from the Tendele coal mine to Richards Bay when it was attacked on the R618 near the Nkwalini area in KwaMsane.

Truck driver, Tsepo Sekgomotso, said the road was closed with guard rails.

“When I stopped, I saw three men though the rearview mirror, approaching the truck from the left hand side.

“They threw petrol bombs underneath the trailers, which immediately caught fire.

“I tried to reverse but failed because it was dark. I then decided to jump out of the truck and run for my life,”Sekgomotso said.

The truck was completely destroyed.

Gumede said he was informed that local residents were protesting about water shortages.

“uMkhanyakude Mayor, Cllr Solomon Mkhombo, always avails himself if there are water challenges in the area.

“I fail to understand why the truck was torched. This incident was clearly a criminal act and had nothing to do with protest action. We condemn this kind of behaviour,”said Gumede.

uMkhanyakude police cluster spokesperson, Captain Jabulani Mdletshe, said a case of malicious damage to property was registered at KwaMsane SAPS for investigation.

“The damage is estimated at R1.2-million. When police attended the scene, they could not find anyone protesting in the area.

“On Wednesday night we heard people were burning tyres on the same road, but when we went there to check, we could not find anyone,” said Mdletshe.