Police have arrested two more suspects linked to the torching of 21 trucks in the past seven days. This brings the total number of people arrested for the attacks on trucks to five.

In a statement, SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe issued a statement saying all suspects are from Mpumalanga. The first two suspects aged 27 and 29 were arrested on Thursday morning at their place of residence while the third suspect was arrested on Thursday evening. "Police are confident that they are closing in on the ring leaders behind these acts of criminality. The suspects arrested in connection with the torching of trucks are expected to appear in court on Monday," she said.The suspects are facing charges of malicious damage to property. Mathe addded that the arrests are the result of investigations by a multidisciplinary team assigned to investigate the attacks on trucks and the burning of heavy vehicles. Mathe said more arrested are expected.

Twenty-one trucks have been torched on different highways in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and Gauteng since Sunday. Earlier this week, Police Minister Bheki Cele announced that 12 people of interest were identified. "Police had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to avert more attacks", while also focusing on finding those behind the torching of the trucks. It is on this score that the SA Police Service has heightened visibility and is leaving nothing to chance in all the provinces. All major routes have been secured, and regular patrols are being conducted along the identified high-risk routes," he said.