On Monday, 13 July 2026, an undocumented foreign national was apprehended by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) officers following a truck accident on the M65 near King Shaka International Airport in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal.
Emergency response and scene assessment
The incident began at approximately 11:33 when the RUSA Operations Centre received multiple calls for assistance. Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered a white Nissan Diesel truck that had overturned after allegedly failing to negotiate a sharp bend.
Deception and subsequent apprehension
Initially, a man at the scene identified himself as the truck's conductor and claimed that the driver had fled before emergency responders arrived. Shortly after making this statement, the man attempted to escape into nearby bushes. RUSA officers, with the assistance of a private security officer, gave chase and successfully apprehended him.
Investigation and identity confirmation
Subsequent investigations revealed that the man had provided false information regarding his role. It was confirmed that he was the actual driver of the vehicle and an undocumented foreign national from Mangochi, Malawi. Two other men present at the scene identified themselves as the truck's conductors and confirmed that the apprehended individual had been driving when the vehicle overturned.
Handover to local authorities
Following the arrest, the driver was handed over to the King Shaka International Airport South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.