Police in Acornhoek are investigating a case of extortion and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition after a truck driver was allegedly threatened on the R40 near a local mall on Friday, 14 November 2025.

According to police reports, the truck driver, travelling from Phalaborwa to Nelspruit, was stopped by a group of individuals who allegedly instructed him not to use the road again. It is believed this was the second time the driver had received such a warning on the same day.

When representatives of the trucking company arrived at the scene, they were reportedly confronted by approximately twelve members of the Acornhoek Forum. The group is said to have demanded that the company employ three truck drivers from the area. They allegedly ordered company officials to bring senior management back the following week to finalise an agreement involving the hiring of local drivers and the payment of a monthly “protection fee”. The group further threatened that failure to comply would result in the company’s trucks being barred from using the R40.

Police later received information about one of the suspects. Officers proceeded to his business premises, where the suspect was searched. A firearm and ammunition were allegedly found in his possession, leading to his arrest on charges of extortion and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Acornhoek Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 18 November 2025.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, strongly condemned the incident and warned that acts of intimidation and extortion would not be tolerated. He commended the swift police response and reaffirmed the SAPS’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all road users and businesses across the province.