Truck overturns, spills load

GRAAFF-REINET — A truck with a super link trailer, en route from Durban to Oudtshoorn, ran off the road last Monday morning on the N9, about 12km from GraaffReinet.

According to the driver, he had a coughing fit and lost control of the vehicle, which veered across the road and overturned, spilling most of its load.

The truck was carrying a 35-tonne load of fertiliser, in 50kg bags.

These bags were contained in one-tonne packs of 20 bags. Some of these large bags, particularly from the front trailer, split open, and the 50kg bags were scattered around the scene.

Some of these were damaged, causing the fertiliser to spill onto the side of the road.

According to a spokesperson from Anton le Roux Transport, the company from George who owns the vehicle, 186 of the 50kg bags were lost in the accident. Some were damaged, and the contents were cleared up by the SANRAL labourers working in the area.

Other undamaged bags were returned to the vehicle by the labourers.

However it appears that many intact bags were taken, allegedly by traffic officials called to help at the scene, and some of the labourers.

A resident of Bergendal related on a social media site how a provincial traffic officer, in his official vehicle, drove around the suburb late on Monday morning and stopped outside her property, hooting to get attention.

Worried that she might have infringed a traffic regulation, the woman went to see what the official wanted.

He explained to her that he had fertiliser to sell, at a very good price! She refused, and fortunately, her dog came to investigate the visitor and he left.

It seems that some of the bags also made their way to Aberdeen with some of the labourers. When contacted by the police, allegedly they claimed that they were going to return the bags to the transport company and were keeping them safe.

Why they were “keeping them safe” at a private house, and not for example at the police station or their offices, is not known. The bags were later returned. The spokesman from Anton le Roux confirmed that a case has been opened by the transport company with the Graaff-reinet police for insurance purposes.

• The spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Traffic Authorities was unavailable for comment.