Trucks robbed during protest

Two trucks were looted yesterday after being forced to stop on the N1 in De Doorns, in the Western Cape Winelands, because of burning tyres on the road.

In videos taken at the scene, a group of people is seen crowding around the trucks to grab goods through the tarpaulin.

Some ran away with large television boxes balanced precariously on their heads, while others enlisted the help of others to lighten their load.

Detectives were said to be going door to door in the area to search for the looted items.

Western Cape traffic chief Kenny Africa said the N1 was closed in both directions due to public unrest, with the situation described earlier as “very tense and volatile”.

Breede Valley municipality mayoral committee member for safety and security Juben von Willingh said: “They burnt tyres, but the reason? We are not sure of that. No one has come forward with demands.”

He believed a criminal element took advantage of the situation and said no protesters were currently gathered in the area.

“Intelligence and police are currently on the scene. We just know at the moment that they stripped both trucks. All the stuff has been stolen.”

One of the trucks belonged to the Buonadonna Group.

The company’s Amica Buonadonna said their driver had seen the truck in front of him being looted and ran away because he was scared.

They logged a call to their vehicle reaction company, but by the time the team was allowed through, everything was gone.

“They took everything ... and they also started vandalising the truck. They stripped it of batteries, the fuse boxes, cameras and electronics,” she said.

The looters had knives with them and managed to cut the tarpaulin, as well as all the straps and wrapping on the pallets.

Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said: “Police are following up on the people who looted the truck... No one has been arrested so far and the traffic has been diverted.” – News24 Wire