A truck driver is recovering in hospital after being stabbed and robbed while sleeping next to the N12 outside Britstown in the Northern Cape early on Sunday morning.
According to information received by SA Trucker, the driver had pulled over to rest when a group of suspects allegedly targeted him while he was asleep in his truck.
The suspects reportedly overpowered the driver and stabbed him with a sharp object before stealing 10 truck wheels and siphoning diesel from the vehicle. They then fled the scene, leaving the injured driver stranded on the side of the road.
Despite suffering serious stab wounds, the driver managed to obtain a cellphone from another passing truck driver and contacted his employer, who immediately alerted the police.
Emergency services responded to the incident and the injured driver was transported to hospital for treatment.
Police Launch Search
After receiving information about the robbery, Kimberley police launched a search operation for the suspects and the stolen property.
Their investigation led officers to a blue Mazda Drifter bakkie and a Fuso truck believed to be linked to the crime.
Read | Dashcam Shows Thieves Stealing Wheels from Truck at Middleburg Weighbridge
When police searched the enclosed cargo area of the Fuso truck, they allegedly discovered the stolen truck wheels and diesel taken during the robbery.
The recovered wheels were subsequently identified as those stolen from the truck near Britstown.
Six Suspects Arrested
Six suspects were arrested in connection with the robbery and theft. Police also confiscated both vehicles as part of the investigation.
The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Growing Concern for Truck Driver Safety
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers faced by truck drivers who are forced to stop and rest along South Africa’s major freight corridors.
Criminals continue to target parked trucks for fuel, tyres, cargo and vehicle components, often attacking drivers who are alone and vulnerable during mandatory rest periods.
The latest attack near Britstown serves as another reminder of the risks truck drivers face while keeping the country’s economy moving.
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