A passenger transport vehicle with South African license plates, which was on its way from Maputo to Durban, was set on fire yesterday in the Bahlahle area, in the town of Madjuva, in the Matutuine district.

"The car was leaving Junta in the direction of Durban. However, when the driver was passing through the Ka Elisa area, at around 10am, he was forced to stop the car, disembark the travelers and then burn it," said Leonardo Timba, quoted by Noticias online.

The source also said that the attack on the South African vehicle took place at a time when the hauliers were preparing to attend a meeting at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) to discuss insecurity in South Africa.

According to the Republic of Mozambique Police (PRM) in Maputo province, quoted by AIM, the act was carried out by individuals posing as passengers to that South African city. The PRM explains that, after immobilizing the vehicle, the individuals removed the key from the ignition and then filled the vehicle with fuel and forced the passengers to get out of the car.

For the police, the act was planned and they guarantee that they are close to arresting the perpetrator. The police say that the perpetrator negotiated with the driver of the car to pick up the passengers in the Matutuíne district. The car had nine occupants, including the driver, who lost all their possessions.

This, it should be noted, is the first case of a car with South African license plates catching fire in Mozambican territory, which is worrying the authorities.

For many, the act can be seen as a kind of retaliation for a wave of persecution and burning of vehicles with Mozambican license plates in neighboring South Africa.

In fact, just yesterday, according to a report in the newspaper o País, another vehicle with national registration was set on fire in South Africa. The vehicle was on the Durban-Maputo route.