N1 CLOSED, petrol tanker on fire in Bloemfontein

Another truck has caught alight, this time a petrol tanker in Bloemfontein this evening, Tuesday, 11 July.

WHAT HAPENED TO THE PETROL TANKER IN BLOEMFONTEIN

According to VR Medical, a Bloemfontein-based Emergency Rescue Service, the petrol tanker went up in flames following a collision.

The company has reported that the N1 is closed in both directions close to the Nelson Mandela offramp.

Motorists have been urged to exercise caution when heading towards Bloemfontein.

ALSO READ : WATCH: Armed gang set five trucks set alight [VIDEO]

TRAFFIC FLOW TO BE AFFECTED ON THE N1

“Authorities on scene. Please reduce speed and avoid the area.”

VR Medical

“Expect obstruction in traffic flow and delayed travel time,” VR Medical cautioned. No injuries were reported as yet.

This petrol tanker fire comes in the wake of serious sabotage in the trucking industry this week.

ALSO READ: Trucks set alight in Limpopo, suspects on the loose

TRUCKS REMAIN UNDER THREAT ON SA ROADS

Meanwhile, two more trucks were set alight on the N2 highway near Empangeni. This brought the total number of torched trucks to 16 so far. According to the police spokesman Brigadier Jay Naicker, the drivers were robbed before the trucks were set ablaze.

Hours earlier, 3 trucks were burnt in Sekhukhune on the R547 Lydenburg road. Armed men forced the drivers out before torching the trucks. The incident came after 5 trucks had been set ablaze on N4 on Monday morning in Mpumalanga, and 6 other trucks on the N3 highway in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the attacks on trucks. He said that he was concerned about the truck torching activities in the country and likened them to economic sabotage. The president made it clear that they will go after the people who were behind the trucks torching.

ALSO READ: TRUCK TORCHING: Two more trucks torched in KwaZulu-Natal

The Democratic Alliance also weighed in saying it will be opening a case of terrorism and demanding that the SAPS conduct a full and proper investigation into the recent attacks on trucks in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.

ALSO READ: DA: “The truck attackers must be charged with terrorism”