Toyota bakkies are amongst the best when it comes to navigating the bushes but that’s only when there are no elephants.

Ask a Bosbok Gas employee and his Toyota bakkie they will tell you the elephant is the real boss after they survived an encounter with a charged one.

The Bosbok Gas driver, Norman Nukeri, had a “too close” encounter with nature while making a delivery to one of its game reserve clients.

Nathan Traut, Bosbok Gas’ marketing and operations manager, said their driver was on his way out of Klaserie Private Nature Reserve on Tuesday after delivering diesel to Klaserie Drift and Ntoma Bush Lodge.

While on his way out, Nukeri had a run-in with an elephant that left his Toyota bakkie with quite a bit of damage to the body.

Traut said in the 30 years they have been in business, something like this has never happened.

“Nature is one of the perks of having to work in nature reserves, just not this close up,” he jokingly remarked.

A video of the incident shows Nukeri trying to ward the elephant off. Initially, it seems as though the animal gives up on the stand-off, but then later returns to basically separate the bonnet from the bakkie.

In facing dashcam shows the terrified Nukeri shell shocked as the elephant attacks his bakkie.

Nukeri could not reverse to outpace the elephant since was towing a small diesel tanker.

“Nukeri is fine, he is just a little shell-shocked. Our director, Hardus Geldenhuys, and a second driver went to the scene to assist. A good thing, considering Nukeri’s state of shock,” Traut said.

The bakkie after enduring the attack. Photo supplied.

“The bakkie’s bodywork was damaged, but there are very few mechanical issues. It was driveable, just not with the bonnet, so they removed it and the vehicle was brought back to the office sans bonnet by the second driver.”

Damage to the bakkie is in the region of R50 000.

Even though Nukeri is doing well, Traut mentioned that he does not wish to be interviewed.

Four people have been injured and multiple others injured when a tanker truck, a bus and other vehicles were involved in a serious crash on N3 north just before the Hidcote off ramp in Mooi River.

Netcare 911’s Shawn Herbst said that paramedics responded to the accident scene at 15H42 on Monday afternoon.

“Netcare 911 with Nsele Ambulance Services Responded to a collision on the N3 Johannesburg bound in Hidcote KZN Midlands region.

Reports indicate that a bus, tanker and multiple cars were involved in a collision leaving four people critical and approximately fourty-four other patients with minor to serious injuries,” said Hersbt.

The fire and rescue services are currently on scene trying to extinguish the fire to determine if any deaths have occurred.

This is a developing story.

Durban – Lawyer Theasan Pillay, 47, from attorneys Theasan Pillay and Associates has been found dead in his apartment on Solstice road in Umhlanga Ridge on Friday morning.

Private security company, Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) reported that they received a call at 11h34 on Friday from a relative requesting assistance after he made the gruesome discovery.

Rusa officers and paramedics on arrival found Pillay in his bedroom.

He had suffered stab wounds to his arm and chest.

“It was established that Pillay left a suicide note at his offices in Umhlanga prior to leaving the premises this morning. His employees discovered the note and called him. During a telephonic conversation he assured them that he was fine and needed some time alone. They then informed his family and requested that they check on his well-being.

His brother proceeded to his apartment and gained access with a set of spare keys when he made the discovery,” said Rusa.

Pillay’s death is being investigated by the police and updates will be shared as soon as they become available.

This is a developing story.