An alert police constable foiled a hijacking on Pretoria Road on Wednesday morning while on his way to work in an Uber taxi.
Driving past the scene at the intersection with Beukes Road, he jumped out and managed to arrest one suspect. Another one got away.
According to Capt Jethro Mtshali, the incident took place at about 8.15am.
“The constable, attached to the crime prevention unit, saw how a motorist, driving a white Ford Fiesta, was ordered out of his vehicle at gunpoint. A struggle ensued between the motorist and alleged hijacker,” Mtshali said.
The constable ordered the Uber driver to stop and jumped out. He identified himself as a police officer and drew his firearm.
At this stage, one armed suspect ran away but his accomplice was arrested on the scene. It was later established he used a toy gun in the attack.
The 29-year-old suspect will face a hijacking charge in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
The station commander of Kempton Park Police Station, Brig Samuel Maredi, commended the member for placing himself on duty by preventing this horrendous crime and bringing the criminal to justice.
