South Africa: Food truck heading to chain store hijacked, looted in graveyard

It was a looting spree in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga, South Africa, after a truck which was carrying goods to a chain store in the area was hijacked and had all its contents looted at a graveyard.

IOL News quoted Police reports, disclosing that some community members fled with a load of fruits and vegetables kept in the looted truck.

“The driver alleged that he was driving on the R536 Road between Hazyview and Mkhuhlu. A group of males allegedly jumped into the road, and a shot was fired from the mob. The truck was forced to stop,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Captain Magonseni Nkosi.

“Two suspects immediately jumped into the truck, one on the driver’s side and the other on the passenger’s side, squeezing the driver in the middle. The suspects took charge and drove the truck towards a graveyard.”

The hijacker, according to reports, made phone calls to inform unidentified people that the trucking was heading towards a nearby graveyard where it was eventually plundered.

“It is alleged that the load was looted and loaded into different vehicles. It is at this time that the truck driver alleged that some individual community members joined and unlawfully grabbed what was in the truck,” said Nkosi.

“The driver was left in the graveyard with an empty truck.”

A case of truck hijacking was later opened and is currently under investigation.

“Police are urging anyone with information that may assist in locating the suspects to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via My SAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential, and callers may opt to remain anonymous,” the police appealed.

Looting of stores is popular in popular in South Africa. In 2021, South African retailer Massmart Holdings (MSMJ.J)  flags wider annual loss due to looting in July during protests over former President Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment.

In total the looting cost 2.5 billion rand ($157.99 million) in stolen goods and damaged assets, with an accounting loss of around 650 million rand after insurance proceeds, according to Reuters news agency