Truck driver fatally shot in Marite, dairy products looted from truck by local community

The Police in Calcutta are in pursuit of suspects who fatally shot a truck driver (45) on the R40 Road in Marite outside Hazyview earlier today, Tuesday 26 September 2023, at around 08:30. During this incident, some members of the public reportedly looted some dairy products that were inside the truck, in spite of the lifeless body of the victim laying behind the steering wheel.

According to a report, the driver as well as two of his crew members were driving along the R40 Road in a truck heading towards Bushbuckridge for a delivery. As they were passing through Marite next to a certain filling station, it is alleged that approximately four to five armed suspects emerged from the roadside with firearms. It is further alleged that the suspects attempted to stop the truck by standing in the road. The driver reportedly made a U-Turn and bumped into another vehicle. Further information indicates that the suspects began firing shots towards the truck. Unfortunately the driver was hit by the hail of bullets and
the truck came to a halt after crashing into a tree after losing control as the driver was shot.

Two of the crew members escaped with minor injuries.

It was during this difficult moment as victims needed urgent help but rather, some members of the public are said to have helped themselves with items from the truck instead of assisting those that were in need.

Police as well as paramedics were summoned to the scene and upon arrival the driver was unfortunately certified dead. He has since been identified as Mr Petros Jay Magagula from Matsulu.

A case was opened with a count of murder and robbery. A team of investigators has already been assembled under the leadership of the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela to probe this incident.

No one has been arrested so far however Police urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the perpetrators, including those that stole some items from the truck to call the Crime Stop number at 086
00 10111 or send information via MySAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the incident. “We are really disappointed by the acts of immorality displayed in this incident. On top of the robbery and the murder of an innocent soul, people had the audacity to steal from the truck though its driver was lying motionless in the pool of blood, inside the truck. People seems to have lost their moral campus. Be as it may, we are going to hunt down and arrest those who were involved in this incident without fear or favour,” said the General.

Source: South African Police Service