Hundreds of motorists were left confused and frustrated on Thursday after being diverted from Barrage Road near the Vaal University of Technology.
A massive presence of emergency services, law enforcement officers, and police vehicles descended on the area, prompting fears among residents and drivers that a major tragedy had occurred.
To passersby, the scene looked terrifying. Several damaged vehicles were positioned across the road while dozens of volunteers, posing as injured victims, lay scattered on the ground.
Curious members of the public gathered to witness the spectacle, and some minibus taxis even stopped so passengers could get off and watch emergency crews carry out rescue procedures.
The operation resulted in a complete shutdown of Barrage Road, forcing drivers to find alternative routes and causing significant delays for commuters travelling between Vanderbijlpark and the Barrage area.
However, Ster has learnt that the alarming scene was not the aftermath of a real collision. Instead, it was a
co-ordinated training exercise involving various emergency and law enforcement agencies.
Despite the large-scale road closure, no official communication was issued to motorists or residents in the surrounding communities before the exercise began.
Ster attempted to obtain a comment from the Sedibeng SAPS communications office and the Emfuleni Local Municipality, but calls to their spokespersons went unanswered.
