A violent incident on the R21 southbound near Pomona Road in Kempton Park has raised fresh concerns around the safety of truck drivers on South Africa’s major freight routes after a 36-year-old man was shot during an alleged attempted attack on a truck on Saturday morning.
According to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), officers were called to a scene involving a truck that had come to a stop in the roadway. On arrival, they found a man who had sustained a gunshot wound.
Preliminary information suggests the situation started when two men travelling in a white vehicle allegedly attempted to steal tyres from a truck. The truck driver reportedly confronted the suspects during the incident, which escalated quickly.
During the confrontation, the driver discharged a firearm, striking one of the suspects. The second suspect reportedly fled the scene on foot. The injured man was treated by ER24 paramedics and transported to Tembisa Hospital in serious condition.
EMPD officers secured the area and assisted with scene control before handing the matter over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
At this stage, authorities are treating the matter as a serious violent incident involving an alleged attempted theft and a shooting that will require detailed investigation to determine exactly what transpired and whether the use of force was justified under the circumstances.
The R21 shooting comes amid a worrying pattern of violent attacks on truck drivers across the country. In a separate recent incident, a gang of six suspects was arrested in Kimberley after allegedly attacking a truck driver on the N12 outside Britstown. The driver was hospitalised after being stabbed during an alleged wheel and diesel theft.
For truckers, incidents like these continue to highlight the risks faced on high-traffic freight corridors, where drivers are often forced into split-second decisions in high-pressure and dangerous situations.
The investigation is ongoing, and SAPS will be looking at statements, forensic evidence, and any available footage or witness accounts to piece together the full chain of events.
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