A group of unemployed young truck drivers from Mooi River are being praised after helping track down a suspected armed robber accused of targeting a truck driver near the Mooi River Toll Plaza on Sunday.
The dramatic incident unfolded after a video of the robbery was shared on the social media platforms of SA Trucker, prompting local drivers to take action.
According to Sokhela, secretary general of ATDF-ASA, one of the organisation’s members contacted him shortly after the footage started circulating online.
“One of our members called and said a group of unemployed truck drivers from the area wanted to help find the suspect after seeing the video,” Sokhela told SA Trucker.
“They said they were tired of criminals damaging the image of Mooi River and targeting truck drivers.”
Sokhela said he immediately drove to meet the young drivers and joined the search for the suspect.
“After searching for some time, we eventually caught up with him. He admitted to robbing the driver and even took us to where he had hidden the stolen cellphone,” he said.
The cellphone, a Hisense device allegedly stolen during the robbery, was successfully recovered.
The team also recovered the firearm allegedly used during the robbery, only to later discover that it was a toy gun.
Despite this, Sokhela said the victim had believed his life was in danger during the incident near the toll plaza.
“When somebody points what looks like a real firearm at you, you are going to fear for your life regardless of whether it later turns out to be fake,” he said.
Sokhela said the team has since been in contact with the truck driver who was robbed near the toll plaza. However, he expressed frustration that no criminal case had yet been opened.
“It is disappointing because without a case being opened, the suspect could not immediately be detained,” he said.
He urged truck drivers and transport operators to report all robberies and criminal incidents to police.
“If these crimes are not reported, it becomes difficult for police to investigate truck crime properly. Drivers must open cases so that dangerous criminals can be removed from our roads,” Sokhela added.
During the search, the group allegedly recovered two additional cellphones from the suspect. According to Sokhela, the suspect claimed the phones had been stolen from the driver of a white Scania Truck pulling blue tautliner trailers.
The group later checked with police, only to allegedly discover that no case linked to that robbery had been reported either.
Police reportedly informed the group that the suspect had previously been linked to a murder and robbery case involving a truck driver who was shot and killed near the Mooi River toll gate several years ago. Although the suspect was acquitted, police said two alleged accomplices were convicted and remain behind bars.
One of the unemployed drivers involved in tracing the suspect said local young people are trying to change perceptions about Mooi River and prove that there are hardworking and trustworthy drivers in the area.
“We wish companies could give us an opportunity to prove ourselves as drivers,” he told SA Trucker.
“Sadly, once some employers hear you are from Mooi River, they no longer want to hire you. We want to clean up our area and show people there are good and hardworking people here. We will not allow criminals to destroy our reputation.”
He also encouraged victims of truck-related robberies to report incidents to police to help investigators tackle crime targeting truck drivers on South African roads.
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