According to Sgt Maurice Nkhwashu, spokesperson for the police in Tzaneen, victims are robbed of their personal belongings and money by the motorists who gave them lifts. “In Tzaneen hardly a week goes by without a person reporting that they were robbed when they were given a lift,” he said. According to him, most of the crimes occur on the R71 road, either travelling to and from Tzaneen, Polokwane, Giyani, Hoedspruit, or Phalaborwa. Some of the roads that are hotspots for hitchhiking robberies are R81 and N1.

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He said it is believed that syndicates are responsible for the crimes. They are believed to have people at different hiking spots identifying potential victims. “These people usually approach the unsuspecting hitchhikers, asking them where they are going and trying to find out if they have any valuable items and money with them. “The syndicates have developed new ways of robbing people; they now have electronic card vendor machines and force their victims to make payments into their accounts.

“One victim was forced to apply for a loan for over R100 000 which was approved immediately and paid into the suspect’s account. At times the victims are stripped of their clothes.” The vehicles reported to the police are Polos (white, blue, and silver), a BMW, a Honda hatchback, a white Corolla, and an Audi. Motorists who give people lifts are also targets of criminals. Nkhwashu said he believes that there are more unreported cases, and he advised commuters to use public transport or their own cars.