In a shocking and heart-wrenching incident, Marite, Mpumalanga residents loot a dairy truck as its driver lay dead behind the wheel, and his crew members suffered injuries.
The tragic event unfolded on the R40 Road near Hazeyview, leaving the police in dismay.
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SAPS Expresses Disappointment as Residents Loot Dairy Truck
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala expressed deep disappointment and described the incident as heartbreaking, inhumane, and embarrassing.
Instead of helping the victims, some community members chose to loot dairy products from the immobilized truck.
It was during this difficult moment that victims needed urgent help but some members of the public are said to have helped themselves with items from the truck instead of assisting those were in need. Police as well as paramedics were summoned to the scene and upon arrival, the driver was unfortunately certified dead. He has since been identified as Mr. Petros Jay Magagula from Matsulu
Violent Encounter Leads to Fatal Consequences
According to Mohlala, the driver and his two crew members were en route to Bushbuckridge for a delivery when approximately four to five armed suspects emerged from the roadside, brandishing firearms.
As the suspects tried to halt the truck by standing in the road, the driver took evasive action, attempting a U-turn. This manoeuvre, however, caused an accident as the truck collided with another vehicle.
The situation escalated when the suspects opened fire on the truck. Tragically, the truck driver, Petros Jay Magagula from Matsulu, was struck by bullets and lay motionless behind the steering wheel, Zimoja reveals.
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The truck came to a halt after losing control and crashing into a tree, resulting in severe injuries to the other two crew members.
Community Prioritizes Looting Over Aid
Following the suspects’ hasty retreat from the scene, community members descended on the accident site, but their actions shocked onlookers. Instead of providing immediate assistance to the injured victims, some residents chose to exploit the situation by looting dairy products from the immobilized truck.
Police Launch Investigation into Dairy Truck Looting
The incident has resulted in a murder and robbery investigation, with a team of investigators assembled under the leadership of the provincial commissioner of the SA Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela.
Despite the severity of the situation, no suspects have been arrested thus far leaving the community and authorities searching for answers in this disturbing case.