Truck driver driver Tinyiko Tlakula is no ordinary driver. He has guts and fighting spirit and is fearless when it comes to protecting his company’s property.

Last Friday he played a hero’s part when he steered his burning truck to safety after it was struck by a live electrical cable in Thohoyandou.

Tlakula, together with his crew, were delivering soft drinks to one of the depots behind the post office. He heard a loud explosion as if a massive bomb had been detonated. Afternoon shoppers had to duck for cover after the bomb-like explosion was heard in the heart of the Thohoyandou CBD.

“I saw this big cable lying on the tarmac, but did not realize that it was a live electric cable. It was only when I tried to reverse the truck that a loud bang was heard. I did not know what to do. I was so confused, thinking that a bomb might have hit the truck,” he said

He said he alighted from the truck in confusion, but could see that the truck was about to catch fire from the cable. “I could see that my truck would soon be in flames and I looked for something to extinguish the fire. I then went back into the truck and made sure that the truck was out of danger. Some shoppers and my colleagues helped extinguish the fire,” he said.

He said he could not imagine the sight of his truck burning with its full cargo of soft drinks. “This is my bread and butter. Without this truck and the soft drinks, I am nothing. I had to do everything in my power to save it and thus save our livelihood,” said Tlakula

Tlakula said he was worried that the cable was left exposed without being covered by anything. “It is just luck that it was not touched by a human being. Just imagine the high voltage going through the body of a person!"

An eyewitness, well-known photographer Doctor Love Khorommbi, who plies his trade behind the post office, just next to where it happened, said he was busy taking some ID photos for a client when he heard a loud explosion. “I was still holding the camera, telling the client how to pose, when I heard a loud bang. I nearly dropped the camera as the ground also shook. I was very shocked and did not know where it emanated from,” he said.

He said after checking on all sides, he saw some smoke billowing from the truck and ran to help. "I realized that there was an electrical cable which was exposed and burning. We then helped the driver and his crew, who were battling to extinguish the fire. We also used cool drinks to help douse the fire, and we succeeded in extinguishing it,” he said.

Eskom Thohoyandou area spokesperson Mr Thiofhi Ratshitanga said they were informed about the cable. “As soon as we heard about the incident, we immediately dispatched our team of engineers, who worked swiftly and power was restored within a short time. We encourage our people to please contact us as soon as they see something wrong with our operation,” said Ratshitanga.