Truck driver sentenced for damage to Silver River Bridge

GEORGE NEWS - Truck driver Asisipho Maqwazima (22) was sentenced to six months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he pays R20 000 into the account of the Department of Transport and Public Works for damaging a Provincial Heritage site.

This follows after an investigation by the Hawks into damaged caused to the Silver River Bridge on the Seven Passes Road about a year ago.

The Hawks opened a case against the male truck driver of a local truck company, who caused damage to the side of the bridge while crossing over in the direction of Wilderness.

Maqwazima appeared in the George Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 5 April. His sentence comes after pleading guilty of contravention of Section 27(18) of the National Heritage Resource Act , No 25 of 1999. The case was heard by magistrate Frazer, the prosecutor was Adv MP Heyns and the defence attorney was CJ Smit.

According to Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani, an amount of R20 000 was paid into the account of the Department of Transport and Public Works yesterday.

"It is reported in March 2022 that Maqwazima collided with a corner post of Silver River Bridge, causing it to break off and fall into the river below," said Hani.

"The accused is reported to have failed to report the incident after the collision. It is understood that his charges came after a complaint from the Wildlife Trafficking and Cultural Heritage Section head office to the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in George on 4 August 2022.

"Through preliminary investigation, the owner of the truck was traced and afterwards admitted that one of his drivers had caused the damage to the bridge. This further culminated into a summons being issued to the accused to appear in court."

The cost of the damages were estimated at about R50 000.

The Hawks opened a case against a male truck driver of a local truck company, who caused damage to the side of the bridge while crossing over in the direction of Wilderness.