A Glen Marais man is recovering in Tembisa Hospital after he was hijacked, beaten up and tied to a tree on Saturday night.

The young man, identified as Richard Slow, was hijacked by three men along Dann Road at about 8.45pm.

He was driving in his Chevrolet Aveo.

According to Kempton SAPS’ W/O Neldah Sekgobela, the man was approached by three males who forced their way into his car.

“According to the victim, the men then drove with him to a nearby veld, where they assaulted him. He was put back into the car and they drove off with him to the corner Monument and Quinine roads in Glen Marais. They assaulted him again and tied him to a tree, then drove off in his car,” Sekgobela confirmed.

According to reports, an MML Security officer who was patrolling in the area saw Slow and immediately alerted his company. A short while later, the incident had been reported on various community WhatsApp groups, and also reached Kempton CPF.

Marius van Wyk, response officer for Smart Security, said he arrived at the scene at about 9pm.

“He gave us his address and someone was sent to fetch his parents, who live not far from where the incident took place,” Van Wyk explained.

“ER24 paramedics were called to the scene and treated the man, who looked like he might be between 30-40 years of age, but it was hard to tell because his face was covered in blood and dirt from the ash on the ground and the sand.”

Sekgobela also confirmed that police couldn’t get the man’s age as he struggled to speak as a result of his injuries.

He was taken to hospital following treatment at the scene and a case of car hijacking and assault is being investigated.