Michael Sakuneka

Michael Sakuneka

Maake police near Tzaneen have opened a case of culpable homicide against a man after a traffic officer was knocked down by a speeding truck while manning a roadblock in Lenyenye township on Monday night.

The traffic cop was on duty with a group of colleagues on the Tzaneen-Lydenburg road when the accident happened.

Captain Matome Makgoba said the incident happened after traffic officers tried to stop the truck which was allegedly travelling at high speed.

The officers tried to escape to the side of the road but the truck veered towards them and hit one of them, killing him instantly.

Makgoba identified the dead traffic cop as Michael Monyemoratho, 45, from Lenyenye.

The driver of the truck was taken to a local police station for questioning and his truck would be released only after the completion of police investigations.

Makgoba said the truck was impounded to conduct forensic investigations to determine whether it was roadworthy or not.

Meanwhile, provincial roads and transport department spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the department was disturbed by the conduct of certain motorists on the road.

He said the department would not tolerate drivers who failed to cooperate with traffic officers on the road.

Makgotho added that heavy fines would be imposed on those who violated traffic rules.