Mashatile claims state security ‘knows’ who’s behind truck attacks

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MashatileSowetanLive reports that Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the state security agency knows who is behind the recent torching of trucks, adding that the government was “on top of things”.

On Wednesday, police minister Bheki Cele will brief the nation on what police are doing to clamp down on what appears to be a coordinated attack on at least 16 trucks so far. In an interview with Sowetan on Tuesday, Mashatile said state security had “gone deeper into who is behind this and have a plan which I can’t discuss”. Asked if they knew who is behind the arson attacks, Mashatile said: “Yes, state security knows.” He added: “Government is on top of things. We met with the security cluster, and they have a plan. What we emphasised is that we want visible policing. Regular roadblocks, searches and guarding of borders. There is a comprehensive plan.” Ephraim Mphahlele of the National Transport Movement, a truck drivers’ trade union, said he expected the police leadership to tell the country they have either arrested or were in the process of arresting the perpetrators. “We are extremely worried about the current attacks on trucks and believe law enforcement should knuckle down and [deal with the perpetrators].” He questioned the effectiveness of police in dealing with the criminals. Meanwhile, fear has gripped thousands of truck drivers who have been forced to continue to crisscross the length and breadth of the country amid the onslaught. Even though no driver has been harmed in the latest incidents, that doesn’t bring any comfort to trucker Mamelani Ncebetha, who said: “I’m scared of getting on the N3 at this time of the day and I had to ask my boss to allow me to sleep over somewhere not far from Durban because once I hit the highway, I’d be very vulnerable.” Mhlangabezi Ntloko, a Cape Town-based truck driver, the current situation was “dreadful”.


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