Carletonville area hit by wave of hijackings and kidnappings
Motorists and public transport drivers were targeted in a series of hijackings and kidnappings reported around Carletonville, Welverdiend, Blyvooruitzicht and Khutsong.
Several hijackings and kidnappings happened in the Carletonville area this week.
On August 25, a 52-year-old driver of a white 10-ton Hino truck carrying furniture on the N14 from Krugersdorp towards Ventersdorp was stopped near Bospan 2 farm.
The driver of a white Nissan NP300 bakkie signalled that something was wrong with the truck. After the truck stopped, the bakkie and a white Ford Ranger parked behind it.
Six men jumped out, forced the truck driver and his crew into the Ford Ranger, and later dropped them off in the Randfontein area unharmed. They contacted their employer, who notified the police.
At the same time on the P111 road, a 33-year-old man driving a white Toyota Hilux bakkie towards Potchefstroom was stopped near Blyvooruitzicht by a navy blue Mercedes-Benz SUV flashing that his vehicle had a problem.
When he pulled over, the SUV parked in front of him. Three men jumped out, grabbed the driver, blindfolded him, and drove away. They left him in the Evaton area. He managed to find his way to the nearest police station to report the matter.
On August 26, blue-light hijackers struck outside Carletonville. A 50-year-old man driving his employer’s white Nissan NP 200 bakkie with registration number HJ14VFGP on the P111 road was stopped near Agnew Road at about 09:30 by a white VW Polo.
Four people wearing police uniforms, consisting of a coloured woman and three African men, forced him into the Polo, covered his head, and drove away before dropping him in an open veld.
The victim got help from a passer-by in Protea, Soweto. He reported the case to the police, though the bakkie was still missing at the time of going to print. Police are investigating all these hijacking and kidnapping charges. Two more incidents happened on August 30.
A 24-year-old driver of a white Toyota Quantum minibus with registration number KZ 68 KM GP left his vehicle idling at Block 1408 at the Elijah Barayi mega housing complex near Welverdiend to buy something from a tuck shop. Two unknown men speaking isiZulu pointed firearms at him, while an accomplice drove off with the victim inside before dropping him at East Driefontein.
Later that day at about 13:30, a 49-year-old driver of a white Toyota Quantum minibus with registration number FW77GDGP picked up two men near the bridge at Khutsong Ext 5 on the road between Welverdiend and Carletonville. One of the men pulled out a firearm, forced the driver out, and drove away with the vehicle.
