The N11, a vital roadway linking towns and cities across KwaZulu-Natal, is a lifeline for thousands of daily commuters. Yet, a recent surge in violent crime along this route has prompted authorities to issue urgent warnings, calling for increased caution among motorists.
On Saturday, 17 May 2025, at approximately 4 pm, a driver travelling from Ladysmith to Newcastle on the N11 was ambushed.
Newcastle SAPS spokesperson Lizzy Arumugam confirmed that two vehicles executed a coordinated attack, one blocking the motorist’s car from the front and the other from behind, leaving no escape. A suspect emerged from one of the two vehicles, armed with a firearm, and robbed the driver of over R9,000 in cash before the group fled.
Arumugam stated that police have launched an armed robbery investigation to apprehend those responsible. This incident, however, is part of a troubling pattern of similar crimes along the N11.
In February 2024, Newcastillian News reported that two men travelling from Volksrust to Newcastle stopped near the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) bridge for a brief roadside break.
Their pause turned perilous when three armed men from another vehicle confronted them, robbing them of cash at gunpoint before escaping, leaving the victims shaken.
To read more, click here.
In April 2024, another incident involved a 38-year-old man driving along the N11. According to Newcastillian News, two men in a separate vehicle signalled him to pull over. When he stopped to investigate, one assailant brandished a firearm, forcing him out of his car and seizing his mobile phones and approximately R49,000 in cash.
To read more, click here.
Additionally, Newcastillian News reported a robbery near Durnacol, where a motorist heard a stone hit his windscreen while driving on the N11. Concerned about damage, he pulled over to inspect his vehicle. Four men from a BMW with a GP registration plate approached, two wielding firearms. They demanded access to his car and cubbyhole, stealing R120,000 in cash and two mobile phones before speeding off.
To read more, click here.
To address this escalating threat, Arumugam announced that SAPS will intensify efforts with unannounced roadblocks and increased patrols along the N11 to deter crime and capture the perpetrators.
These recurring incidents underscore the growing danger on the N11, where criminals exploit routine stops and isolated stretches to target unsuspecting drivers. Motorists are urged to remain vigilant, avoid stopping in remote areas, and report suspicious activity immediately.
The SAPS’s commitment to increased patrols and roadblocks signals a proactive response, but the responsibility also falls on the community to stay alert.
What are your thoughts on the above? Share your views in the comment section below.
3 Responses
This was inside job’s how did the assailants knew who had a lot of cash.
Somebody informed them.
Who told them about the cash?
Seems like it was planned, how do they know who, where, when?