KOMATIPOORT – A Mozambican truck driver found himself in hot water after he not only ignored the orders of South African traffic police but also recklessly crashed his truck into their vehicle.
The incident unfolded along the N4 Highway in Komatipoort, near the Lebombo Port of Entry, last Saturday, resulting in his immediate arrest.
According to eyewitnesses and accounts from the traffic officers at the scene, the truck was moving dangerously down the highway, even going against oncoming traffic, when the officers attempted to halt the errant vehicle.
Despite their orders and attempts to bring the situation under control, the 45-year-old Mozambican truck driver remained defiant.
As a result, he was swiftly apprehended by the police.
Read | Trucks Violating Rules at Lebombo Border to be Impounded, Fined up to R8000 – MEC Vusi Shongwe
Departmental Spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, released a statement regarding the incident, stating, “The 45-year-old Mozambican was arrested on the spot. He was charged with reckless driving, failure to comply with the instructions of the traffic official, and malicious damage to state property.”
The arrest was welcomed by the Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security, and Liaison, MPL. Vusi Shongwe, who expressed his condemnation of the driver’s reckless behavior in the strongest terms.
MEC Shongwe emphasized, “This level of disrespect towards law enforcement officers and the rules of the road will not be tolerated.”
He went on to acknowledge the frustrations often experienced by drivers at the border due to long queues, but he was adamant that this did not justify breaking traffic regulations or endangering the lives of other road users and officials.
Shongwe called for stringent measures against reckless truck drivers and urged the Security Cluster members to show no leniency towards them.
Shongwe also revealed that the Department of Community Safety, Security, and Liaison has been actively working with various stakeholders to address congestion at the border.
As part of interim measures to ease congestion, traffic officers have been operational at night daily since August this year.
This move aims to improve the flow of traffic and ensure the safety of all road users, including the dedicated officials tasked with enforcing traffic regulations.
The Mozambican truck driver now faces legal consequences for his actions and is expected to appear in court soon.
