An investigation has been launched into the alleged assault of a truck driver by uniformed law enforcement officers alongside the N4 Maputo Corridor near Komatipoort.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie condemned the incident after footage of the alleged assault circulated on social media over the weekend.
The video appears to show a group of about six officers striking the driver with what resembles a “sjambok”. A person filming the incident can be heard remarking in isiZulu that the officers are giving the driver “a hiding”.
“We wish to condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms and further indicate that an investigation into the incident is already underway. Once the probe into this deeply embarrassing incident has been concluded, appropriate steps will be taken,” Macie said.
Law enforcement officers are expected to uphold the law at all times whether on or off duty, he added.
Several other videos circulated alongside the assault footage as roadworks and a stop-and-go system reportedly contributed to truck queues of up to 20 km on the N4 near the Lebombo border over the past week.
One video appears to show three traffic officers involved in a verbal altercation with a truck driver beside his vehicle. The officers allegedly took his keys and refused to allow him to retrieve his cell phone from the truck. He was reportedly told to remain outside the vehicle until morning as “punishment”.
Other footage appears to show traffic officers deflating truck tyres to immobilise vehicles in the border queue.
In one incident, officers allegedly accused a driver of attempting to jump the queue after he parked beside another truck to help its driver jumpstart the vehicle.
Truck drivers who pulled over to sleep while the queue was stationary were also allegedly woken by officers deflating their tyres.
Mike Fitzmaurice, African Union of Transportation and Logistics Organizations Vice President for Southern Africa, said he raised the tyre deflation allegations with a supervisor in the Mpumalanga provincial traffic department but has not received a response.
He described the alleged conduct as malicious damage to property and a criminal offence.
“When you deflate the tyres of a fully loaded truck, it damages the sidewall and can cause premature tyre failure,” Fitzmaurice said.
Drivers suspected of committing traffic offences should receive fines rather than deflating their tyres, he added.
The stop-and-go controls contributing to long queues left some drivers stranded for four to five days, according to Fitzmaurice.
The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison did not respond to questions from Freight News about allegations that officers deflated truck tyres.
