trucker brick

Photo: SA Long-distance Truckets / Twitter

Watch: Truck driver killed as brick attack leads to deadly stampede [video]

This is a crime of the most heinous variety: One trucker was killed and another injured after their vehicle was hit by a brick and had their cargo looted on Sunday.

trucker brick

Photo: SA Long-distance Truckets / Twitter

South Africa’s trucker community has been left reeling this weekend after a long-distance driver had his windows bricked by two thugs standing on top of a bridge. The incident – which took place in De Doorns, Western Cape – saw the vehicle swerve off the road and crash before goods from the Time Link cargo were looted.

Sadly, it is reported by the South African Long-distance Truckers (SALT) organisation that Christopher Kgomo was behind the wheel when disaster struck. Another driver who was in the sleeper cab was also injured, but he survived the ordeal. What makes the case immeasurably tragic is that it was not the bricking which killed the driver.

Brick through the windscreen “didn’t initially kill the driver”

It’s believed that once the truck had come to a complete stop, there was a rush from citizens in the town near Worcester to steal from the cargo. The badly-injured trucker was allegedly killed by the resulting stampede, which ensued just after 5:00 on Sunday morning

Time Link haven’t responded to any inquiries as of Monday morning, but unconfirmed reports state that the company have had to a pay a ransom of at least R1000 for a stolen hard-drive:

“Time Link management had to pay [this man] and buy back their own hard drive of the truck. He was given R1000 for them to buy it back. The police have to show us what they’re going to do because this is a murder.”

SA Long-distance Truckers

In an unfortunate turn of events, another trucker in Durban was also subject to a similar attack on Sunday night. Thankfully, he survived with just a few cuts and bruises to speak of, as he managed to bring his vehicle to a halt:

Advice and support for truckers in South Africa

If you are a trucker and this happens to you, it’s advised that you must try and bring the lorry to a halt as soon as possible. Attempting to drive away with a damaged windscreen will endanger more lives than just your own.

Of course, that’s not always an option. If you do veer off the road and come to a stop, it’s imperative that you call the emergency services for help. If you come under attack, truckers must comply with the demands of looters of hijackers – there is no heroism required when the preservation of your life is at stake.

There are plenty of ways you can find support if you’ve been affected by these issues. The long-distance trucker group on Facebook has more than 150 000 helpful members, and the newly-established Truckers Association South Africa can provide you with more information on this subject. You can find their contact details here.

Watch the Time Link trucker video here: