*A truck driver has alleged that a South African transport company remotely immobilised the truck he was driving on the B1 highway in Namibia, shortly before a crash in which two people lost their lives.
The incident occurred on 26 July 2026 between Windhoek and Rehoboth and remains the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Namibian authorities.
According to the driver, he had repeatedly requested that the company assign him a load to Cape Town so that he could collect medication prescribed for his bipolar disorder. He alleges that his requests and phone calls to management went unanswered.
The driver claims that, after receiving no response, he unhooked the trailer from the truck and began driving the horse towards South Africa. He alleges that the company believed he was using the vehicle on an unauthorised trip and remotely immobilised the truck while it was travelling on the B1 highway, causing it to come to a stop in the roadway.
SA Trucker has not independently verified these allegations.
The driver further alleges that he became frustrated after the truck was immobilised and vandalised the vehicle. SA Trucker has viewed photographs and videos that appear to show extensive damage to the truck.
According to the driver, a vehicle later crashed into the back of the stationary truck. He alleges that two occupants died as a result of the crash, while two others sustained injuries and were transported to hospital. The circumstances surrounding the collision and its cause remain under investigation by the Namibian authorities, and SA Trucker has not independently verified the driver’s account.
The driver also told SA Trucker that he had previously informed his manager that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He alleges that the company was aware of his condition before the incident.
SA Trucker has reviewed audio messages voluntarily provided by the driver in which he informs his manager that he has bipolar disorder and requires medication. In the recordings reviewed by SA Trucker, the manager appears to acknowledge receipt of the information. SA Trucker has not independently verified the driver’s medical diagnosis, nor whether it had any bearing on the events that followed.
The driver told SA Trucker that he has been charged in Namibia in connection with the alleged vandalism of the truck and is currently being held in custody awaiting trial. SA Trucker has not independently verified the exact charges.
In keeping with our editorial policy, SA Trucker contacted the transport company and afforded it an opportunity to comment before publication.
In a written response, the company declined to comment on the allegations.
“At this stage, we are not in a position to provide any comments or substantive response to the points raised in your correspondence. The issues referred to are the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment while those proceedings remain active.
“In addition, we are bound by our legal and confidentiality obligations, including those arising under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Accordingly, we are unable to disclose or discuss any information relating to this matter.”
The company added that it trusts these constraints will be understood.
As the matter is before the courts, the allegations made by the driver have not been tested in court. Likewise, no findings have been made regarding the cause of the fatal crash or the circumstances under which the truck came to be stationary on the roadway.
SA Trucker will continue to follow the case and provide updates as further information becomes available through official investigations and court proceedings. *Editorial Note: This article has been updated to remove a geographic reference that was not essential to the reporting. No other material changes have been made.
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